Nice vistas and petroglyphs are all over, marked with decent signage. There was one flat, easy walk and another short looped route with some elevation gain among the rocks. Both hikes took about 30-40 minutes. Insider's Tip: Entry fee no longer collected as of February 2026. read more

Came here during a trip to ABQ. Boca Negra is managed by ABQ city vs federal gov so it does remain open during the federal shutdown (please continue to follow safety guidelines and follow regulations regarding park behavior). This canyon has 3 separate trails for viewing petroglyphs; a 5 min, a 15 min, and a 1 hr. Maps for these are available at the Petroglyph National Monument (managed by federal gov and may be shut down due to the federal shutdown). I did the 15 min and the 5 min trails, these are not accessible trails for strollers or wheelchairs as they include stairs and walking through semi paved and unpaved rocky walkways. There are small signs throughout the trails including education information as well as briefs about some of the petroglyphs. Please do not go when it is raining or recently rained; the trails are sandy and become very slippery + the rocks become darker and it is incredibly hard to spot and distinguish petroglyphs. read more

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This is a really cool place to see historical petroglyphs. It's a little rocky but still an easy hike. It takes about one hour to walk all three trails and they have clean restrooms and ample parking. The hike also has nice views of the city so it's a must see for you and your kiddos too! read more

Where you can get up close and personal with the petroglyphs. Last time I visited, they had also nixed the cost for entry, which is nice! There are several close-to-ground-level trails and glyphs to see, but if you are capable the stair-filled uphill trail that goes to the top of the canyon is chock full of different petroglyphs and a bunch of informational plaques with tidbits about the rock art as well as local flora and fauna and the history of the area. It is my second favorite of the petroglyph canyons (for seeing the glyphs...my 4th favorite in preference for hiking only) and is likely the most accessible for all ages and physical ability levels. Certainly recommend a stop if you are in the area! read more

Mouth Park Boca Negra Canyon is one of five (including the Visitors Center) disparate locations around Albuquerque encompassing Petroglyph National Monument. The Good: *This might be the smallest of the sites, but maybe the most fun if you're a fan of climbing. *Not as many Petroglyphs (100 vs 400) as Piedras Mercadas Canyon, but because the hikes/climbs are so short, it makes one feel like they've seen a lot. *Restrooms *Drinking fountains *Spectacular views of Albuquerque and the surrounding area once you get to the top. The Meh: *No dogs allowed *Minimal $2/weekend & $1/weekday entrance fee, but free with National Park pass, of course. The Ugly: *If you have bad knees, then this ain't for you. Steep steps and fairly hearty--but short--inclines to get one to the top. TLDR: Not the most Petroglyphs, but maybe the most fun, if you're a fan of climbing, that is. read more

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Four stars because the few other people there seemed to really be having fun. For me this was tough, short steep uphill climb - if you have any sort of knee problems don't do it. I am suffering today. I think we spotted about 15 petroglyphs but they were mostly low down so the climb was not necessary. We will try the other trails this week which I now read are flatter. read more

Boca Negra Canyon is within the Petroglyph National Monument.  There are three hiking trails inside the canyon - Macaw, Mesa Point, and Cliff Base; all told you can see somewhere in the neighborhood of a hundred petroglyphs. The three trails here vary in difficulty - Cliff Base and Macaw are moderate; Mesa Point is an ass kicker ;-) Recently, I hiked Mesa Point with a friend visiting from out-of-town.  The rocks (mostly volcanic in origin) have many different drawings, which including animals, humans, and symbols (both ceremonial and religious).  The combination of the easy access, the difficult terrain, the natural beauty and the historical significance made our visit to this trail both extremely fun and memorable. Tip: Boca Negra Canyon is open daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm; last entry at 4:00pm is strictly enforced. read more

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We stopped here on our visit to Albuquerque and loved the views available at the vista point. I'd recommend keeping aside a couple of hours to do a small hike of this place. On a difficulty level consideration, I'd rate the trails here as "easy" to "moderate" (There's ~3 of them) read more

Beautiful trails are located in Boca Negra Canyon to view hundreds of ancient petroglyph images, including people, animals and ceremonial figures. The Mesa Point and Cliff Base Trails are easily explored paved pathways that climb up the side of the canyon for a closer look at the carvings and stunning scenic views. The canyon was formed by six volcanic eruptions that occured about 200,000 years ago. The liquid lava formed peninsulas around the existing hills, that subsequently eroded leaving canyons in a process called reverse topography. Over time, huge boulders broke away and tumbled down creating the canvas for ancient people to chip and peck away to create the numerous petroglyphs over hundreds, or thousands, of years. Amazing to visit this ancient sacred ground that is located literally right next door to a very urban Albuquerque. read more

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We loved Boca Negra. It's easy to park and walk to the petroglyphs. It's a little steep on the climb but very doable if you have average mobility. There is also a flatter section where you can see quitea bit without the climb. read more

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Great views of the city and petroglyphs for only $1 to park. You get a good, short hike I and get to see a ton of drawings on the rocks. The trail is sometimes hard to follow, but not bad amd is right off the parking lot. read more

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Boca Negra Canyon is a great place to file for history and hiking. I really like the location and being able to park close to the trails and get right into it. The petroglyphs are really cool and unique. Well worth a visit to check out and experience read more

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This is the park for viewing the petroglyphs. Located just a few miles north of the Petroglyph National Park visitor center. The Mesa Point Trail is a short but steep walk up the mountain that gives you the best views of the petroglyphs and of the surrounding city. Note- it's not the best for those with mobility issues but it should be okay for kids 5 and older. Admission is $2 per car weekends, $1 weekdays. If you have the fourth grader pass it's free... read more

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I have been here in the past to hike. I was happy to see that they had done some upgrades to the trails. They are better marked and those that at an incline they had installed cables for use. There is more signage tell hikers where they can enter and not enter. It is a great please to get outside. Remember to take water as there is none on the trails. read more

Really enjoyable hike after we landed and needed to stretch our legs a bit. Lots of nice petroglyphs that were easy to spit and beautiful views of the city as well. Amazing that it is as close to town as it is. No facilities out in this area other than some shaded picnic areas so if you are going for an extended hike make sure to bring some water. read more

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Excellent little nature area, part of Petroglyph National Monument. On weekdays, it's $1/vehicle, rising to $2 Saturday and Sunday. Stop by the Petroglyph visitor center to get a detailed guide. The main hike here is a medium-intensity climb up a hill. It's an interesting setting: suburban, with houses close at hand. From the top, excellent views of the Sandias and almost the whole of ABQ. On the way up, stop and appreciate the wonderfully preserved petroglyphs. I'm also fond of the Macaw Trail, a bit further down the loop. It's a low-intensity hike with just a few stairs. There's a longer trail going the other direction, but nothing that will take longer than fifteen minutes to explore. Plenty of picnic tables, so bring the family and a bite to eat. I like bringing out of town visitors here because of the proximity to history, the natural splendor, and the relative ease of access. And, in case you're concerned, there are restrooms as well. read more

Aaah, New Mexico?! Where do I start!? So much mysteries and almost sure history. I wish I have all the time in the world to see parts of this state that holds a lot of stories. This place here is also enchanting. A little bit of hike (a smooth one...) takes you all the way to the top and see the magnificent 360 views. This you do a self guided tour which, I did with my family. It is short and sweet and you will run into postings that says a little or a lot about this canyon. I recommend this to all who visit one day or some day. I'm sure we can google this as well. What a lovely experience I had. I love and cherish good memories. read more

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Beautiful and worth the visit. Hard to imagine how ancient the writings are on the rock.

Boca Negra Canyon is within the Petroglyph National Monument. While visiting Boca Negra Canyon there are a multitude of symbols carved onto the archeological sites.  The volcanic rocks had many drawings including figures of people, animals, and ceremonial and religious symbols carvings. The landscape here is considered holy ground to Native American tribes. While climbing up Boca Negra there are many petroglyphs leading all the way up to the top of the canyon. The views of all of the petroglyphs while hiking and climbing rocks to the top were really remarkable read more

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Dropped by with my 15 month old. She was able to complete the hike with minimal help. The view was pretty and the petroglyphs were easily identifiable. A good spot for photography. read more