6001Unser Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120
Phone: 505-899-0205
Fax: 505-899-0207
Open All Year
Overview. Albuquerque's West Mesa is the site of a spectacular 17-mile-long escarpment that is a virtual museum of over 15,000 prehistoric and historic rock carvings, or petroglyphs. Although most of these date from between A.D. 1300 and 1650, some of the symbols are ancient, and were scratched or abraded on canyon walls 2,000 years ago. What to see and do. After a short visit to the Las Imagines Visitor Center to acquaint yourself with the geology and history of West Mesa, proceed on to Boca Negra Canyon to see the petroglyphs themselves. There you will find self-guiding trails. Hikers can follow primitive trails to more remote areas of the monument, such as Rinconada Canyon. In summer, rangers lead regularly scheduled walks. Both the Las Imagines Visitor Center and the Boca Negra unit are open from 8 AM to 5 PM daily. The Southwest Parks and Monuments Association manages a bookstore at Las Imagines. The monument is close to many other National Park Service sites, as well as Albuquerque's historic Old Town. The visitor center is located at 4735 Unser Blvd NW, three miles north of I-40. Note: Native Americans consider the entire West Mesa escarpment a sacred place and many hold religious ceremonies there. Please respect it as you would any other place of worship.
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