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La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site, Santa Fe, NM

Photo: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sightseeing

La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site

Hundreds of ancient rock carvings on basalt cliffs above the Santa Fe River, managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Santa Fe, NM

About La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site

This BLM-managed site holds hundreds of carvings made on a mesa above the Santa Fe River. Many were made by Keresan-speaking Pueblo ancestors between the 13th and 17th centuries, and some date to the Spanish colonial period. Visitors often see many hump-backed flute player figures and a wide range of bird images. The old route of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro also passed nearby. A one-mile loop trail starts as a dirt path and then crosses rocks that must be climbed, so it suits hikers who can handle uneven footing. Wooden posts with white arrows mark the way, and the views of the surrounding country are a highlight. Touching, chalking, or making rubbings of the carvings is prohibited, and visitors should pack out all litter.

  • #petroglyphs
  • #rock art
  • #hiking
  • #archaeology
  • #Santa Fe

What's around here?

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