27 Oct La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs: Everything You Need to Know

La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs are unique and interesting rock carvings created hundreds of years ago by the Keresan-speaking people. They date back to between the 13th and 17th centuries, though there is suspicion some petroglyphs date back to between 8000 to 2000 BCE. I visited the petroglyphs while on a road trip from Pennsylvania to California with a couple of friends. It was a great addition to our road trip as it was quite unlike any other attraction we visited in the area.  

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Contents:

1) Location of La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts 

5) Background 

6) Directions: Parking and the Petroglyphs

7) Wildlife in the Area 

8) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Location of La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs

La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs are located in Santa Fe, which is the fourth largest city in the state of New Mexico. For reference, it is approximately one hour north of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Other attractions in New Mexico that you must add to your itinerary include Bandelier National Monument and Santuario de Chimayo. 

If you happen to be in North Carolina anytime soon, Judaculla Rock has its own array of petroglyphs. 

Parking

There is a small, dirt parking lot on the side of the road by the petroglyphs. While the parking lot is fairly obvious, the “La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs” sign can be easy to miss. It is a fairly small sign at the entrance of the parking lot – so keep an eye out. 

Nearby Lodging

The best place to look for lodging accommodations in the area is in the city of Santa Fe.

Nearby Airports to La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs 

The closest airport to the petroglyphs is the Santa Fe Regional Airport. The airport is only a 10 minute drive away. Moreover, the closest international airport is the Albuquerque International Sunport, which is a one hour drive away. However, please note that you will most likely need to get a rental car if you plan to travel to the petroglyphs from the airport, as public transportation is not available to this location. 

Close-up view of some of the petroglyphs

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

It will be quite easy for you to remember these details. La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs are available to visitors all day, every day of the year. However, it makes the most sense to visit during daylight hours as the petroglyphs will be much harder to see in the dark. 

Furthermore, there is no entrance fee. That is right, you can visit the petroglyphs whenever you want, and you do not have to pay a fee to do so.

Petroglyphs across multiple rocks

3) The Best Time to Visit

If you live in New Mexico, you know the summer heat can be brutal. Those who are visiting from out of state should be prepared and thus look at the weather in advance. If the weather says 80 degrees Fahrenheit (~27 Celsius) as a high, add at least five more degrees on top of that because the sun beating down on you will make it feel even hotter. Trust me, I visited in the middle of August and thus experienced the full extent of New Mexico’s summer heat. 

That being said, visiting in the spring or fall seasons would be best. You will experience slightly lower temperatures yet still avoid any trace of ice or snow from the winter months. Ice can make it a bit tricky to climb over the rocks on the hillside. 

Plan to visit for at least 30 minutes. However, that would not give you much more than 10 minutes to explore as you will need to set aside some time to walk from the parking lot to the petroglyphs. I would say that one hour is a better estimate of the time you need, though you could truly spend as much time here as you want. 

Zoom in to see a bunch of petroglyphs on all of the rocks

4) Quick Facts 

1. Touching or vandalizing the petroglyphs in any way is prohibited. 

2. The petroglyphs were created hundreds of years ago between the 13th and 17th centuries. 

3. The petroglyphs were created by the Keresan-speaking people, whose descendants now live in the Pueblo de Cochiti.

4. A lot of the petroglyphs represent animals, hunters, and flute players. 

5. No facilities, including restrooms, are available at the location. 

Petroglyphs, petroglyphs, and more petroglyphs

5) Background 

Trust me, you will have a whole new appreciation for the petroglyphs if you learn a bit about them beforehand. You can know who created them, what some of the petroglyphs mean, and what the path was previously utilized for throughout history. Also, you will know that there are thousands of petroglyphs among the rocks in the area. 

La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs are maintained by the Bureau for Land Management (BLM). 

Creation of La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs

La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs date all the way back to between the 13th and 17th centuries. The Keresan-speaking population created these petroglyphs, and their ancestors now live in Pueblo de Cochiti. An attraction right by that Pueblo is the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. “Kasha-Katuwe” means “white cliffs” in Keresan. 

Nevertheless, there is suspicion that some of the petroglyphs were created thousands of years ago around 8000 to 2000 BCE. 

Meaning of La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs

The main objects depicted in the petroglyphs are birds and flute players. When visiting, see if you can count the number and types of birds visible in the petroglyphs as you walk along the hillside. Then go ahead and let me know your answer in the comments below.

You will be able to make out some of the petroglyphs, but others might be a bit more complicated. If you are interested, you can do a bit of research beforehand. Otherwise, take photographs and do research afterwards to try and understand what more of the petroglyphs signify. For example, some might signify calendars, important events, etc.  

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro 

The petroglyphs lie along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which is a road with a pretty cool and interesting history. Many years ago, indigenous people utilized this camino as a hunting and trading route. Then as time went on, it transformed into a camino connecting the cities of Santa Fe and Mexico City. No longer was it just a hunting and trading route for indigenous peoples, but rather settlers utilized it for traveling and economic purposes. 

La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs – do you know what they mean?

6) Directions: Parking and the Petroglyphs

The petroglyphs are not right next to the parking lot, but instead you have to walk about five or 10 minutes to reach them. When I visited, I was not aware of this. Therefore, my friends and I took our chances and set out on the path. We eventually found the petroglyphs, but only after a wrong turn or two. Do not make the same mistake as us – be prepared with directions beforehand. 

Directions to the Parking Lot

Most people visiting the petroglyphs will drive from Santa Fe. If you are also doing so, you will most likely need to hop on I-25 south. Then get off at exit 276 to merge onto NM-599 N. Next, turn left onto Paseo Real (56) and drive for about three miles (~4.8 kilometers). Keep an eye out for a dirt parking lot on your right. There will be a small sign for La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs. 

Directions to La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs

There is a trailhead leading to the petroglyphs from the parking lot, and past the trailhead are arrows leading you in the right direction. Follow the arrows, which will keep you outside of a barbed wire fence for a while. Then eventually the arrows will have you cross the fence in a safe location. At this point, you then have to hike upwards a bit along the rocks to arrive at the petroglyphs, which are close to the top of the hill. If you have your glasses on, you should start to be able to see the petroglyphs at the time you cross the fence. It will take you five to 10 minutes to arrive at the petroglyphs from the parking lot. 

However, do note there are petroglyphs all around the area. While most of them are located at the top of the hill, there are also some scattered along the rocks at all sections of the hill. 

The BLM website even has a map of the trail for La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs.

View of the surrounding scenery from La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs

7) Wildlife in the Area

You will most likely not see any wildlife while visiting the petroglyphs, though you might spot a squirrel or mule deer if you are lucky. 

There is one animal, however, that you should keep an eye and an ear out for. Rattlesnakes do live in the area, and thus remain aware of your surroundings. You will most likely hear a rattlesnake before you see it due to the rattle on their tail. If you do happen to hear or see a rattlesnake, slowly move away from it and do not make any sudden movements. 

More petroglyphs along the rocks

8) Recommended Items to Bring

1. Water bottle: I cannot emphasize enough that you need to bring a water bottle with you while walking to the petroglyphs. You might want to leave it behind because you are thinking…it is only a five to 10 minute walk, right? Well, a short hike can easily turn into a much longer one if you make a wrong turn. Additionally, the short hike can feel a lot longer if it is 80+ degrees Fahrenheit (~27 Celsius) outside. It is essential you stay hydrated, so bring that water bottle even if you think it is an inconvenience. Trust me, I visited in August and sure was glad I brought my Yeti water bottle with me, as I finished most of it along the way. 

Hygiene

2. Sunscreen: Again, I can attest that you need sunscreen from personal experience. Even 30 minutes in the sun can burn your skin when you are visiting on a hot and sunny day. You can check the UV index to determine how low or high sun exposure will be for the day. 

3. Bug spray: Imagine this. You are walking to the petroglyphs but you have no water, the sun is burning your skin, and now mosquitos are biting you. What an awful experience, right? Well, thankfully this can all be avoided by bringing these items with you when you visit. Opt for a mosquito repellent bracelet if you do not like the smell or feel of the spray. 

Hiking Apparel for La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs 

4. Hiking shoes: I did not own hiking shoes for the longest time, and to be honest I did not own them when I visited here. However, I will say that hiking shoes would have made my life a lot easier. You do have to walk up a short hill and around some rocks to see the petroglyphs, and that will be much easier if you wear proper shoes with grip and traction.

5. Hiking poles: As I have said previously, you do have to hike a short hill and among rocks. If you want a little extra assistance or have any difficulty with balance, I recommend buying a pair of hiking poles. 

6. Optional – crampons: You will only need to consider crampons if you are visiting in the winter months. Crampons help you maintain your footing while hiking in snowy or icy conditions, for they are spikes that attach to the bottom of your shoes. 

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When in Texas, be sure to check out the second largest canyon in the US: Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Also stop by one of the state’s most unique attractions: Cadillac Ranch: History of a Unique Place to Visit in Texas.