Petroglyph Point Hike
Petroglyph Point Hike
4.5
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A flat 3-mile hiking trail in Mesa Verde National Park.
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles277 reviews
Excellent
200
Very good
63
Average
11
Poor
2
Terrible
1

MikeJennyQ
Onalaska, WI985 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Strenuous trail but petroglyphs are amazing. Has a portion that is pretty tough and not a place you want your hand full of stuff. Take water as you get a unexposed part most of midday. Interlinks so you cn do a circle around big ruins and see some views only in shape hikers are going to get. Best hike in park for us will make this top priority if we go back.
Written 20 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Thomas T
San Francisco, CA359 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2023 • Couples
A strenuous hike that climbs up and down the cliff side of the canyon. You are exposed to the sun for the entire hike so bring lots of water. The petroglyphs are at the very end just when you’re about to give up from heat exhaustion.
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Grover R
Pensacola, FL18,062 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
You come to Mesa Verde for the ruins, but this park has some great hikes. Consensus in our group was this is the BEST hike in Mesa Verde and maybe the best of our trip to Colorado, definitely top 3.

We stayed in the park to hike this trail first thing in the morning, temperatures are cool and you are in the shade. I knew there were structures and petroglyphs on the hike and I figured there would be some good views of the canyon. However, I did not anticipate that the hike itself would be such a feature.

While you will travel out and back to the point, the trail is a loop with one part inside the canyon (Our hike out) and one part along the canyon rim (our return). The canyon rim has some great views of scenery, but the trail is very easy and without as much character. However, the trail inside the canyon is an attraction to itself. This is a very active up and down trail with some very tight squeezes. You are pretty much using the paths that natives peoples used for centuries. That was amazing. You will also have some good views of the canyon here, but one of the best features is simply the trail, see the pictures.

When you arrive it is neat to see the Petroglyphs; however, the real enjoyment is the trail itself. I will say the petroglyphs at both Petrified Forest and Petroglyphs NM are better. However, while you are here this is great thing to see and the trail and views of the canyon are simply amazing.

Again, if you are looking to hike in Mesa Verde NP, this is the best trail and a Must Do activity.
Written 15 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BarbaraKM
Vienna, VA1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Beautiful hike. We went early in the morning so it was cool, and not many other people on the trail.
Written 12 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

4281CarolG
Los Lunas, NM330 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2022
Have on some good hiking boots as this is a tough trail to hike. Lots of small spaces and ups and downs.
Written 9 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kellylwag
Nebraska122 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2021
always enjoy seeing petroglyphs, and this one does not disappoint. neat to see, not a bad hike at all
Written 27 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marie5466
Guanajuato Municipality, Mexico1,135 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
The canyon trail to a petroglyph panel is as beautiful as the petroglyphs themselves. Though quite small compared to other petroglyphs in the region, this artistically covered panel is very fascinating and powerful.

I only met one other person on the hike (make sure you sign the register at beginning of trail before embarking on this hike, especially if you are alone). It felt wonderful to seemingly have the place to myself. There are a couple of steep and tight spots (larger people or people with large backpacks may find it a tad intimidating or difficult to get through) to climb after the petroglyphs (you can choose to go back the way you came or scramble up the steep spot) so not for everyone but if you are in good physical shape and no fear of heights this should be a fun hike.

The Hopi see petroglyphs as part of an identifiable legacy. Purposefully made and left behind by ancestors. They are considered sacred to the park’s 25 affiliated tribes so please treat them as such. They are made by pecking away at the darker desert varnish, showing the lighter rock beneath.
Written 19 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Otters14
Saint Paul, MN43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
My wife and I are so happy we elected to complete the Petroglyph Point Hike during our visit to Mesa Verde. Although there are longer trail hikes available, this is a fun, challenging, and very rewarding hike! The views along the trail are tremendous and the petroglyph panel was extremely interesting.

We were lucky to visit Mesa Verde during a relatively quiet period, and we ended up having the entire trail to ourselves. This made our time spent at the petroglyph panel extra special!
Written 16 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scott G
Washington DC, DC408 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
The views alone give this hike an excellent rating. The hike is mostly on narrow trail, with lots of big rocks, and you have to pay attention despite the magnificent scenery distracting you. Bring water (and your camera). You really do have to scramble up rocks to reach the return trail, although, again the view from the top is rewarding. Also, the return trail is much easier, flatter, etc. You get a close up view of the rock carvings, and they are easy to view (not in a dark cave or anything like that).
Written 4 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robin C
Laguna Niguel, CA89 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2021 • Family
This trail was very treacherous! The descriptions given on the visit Mesa Verde website, the NPS website and the handouts at the lodge are not indicative of how difficult this hike is! It says strenuous but so do
Other easier hikes. We had to be rescued by a search and rescue team.

First, you should know that the stone steps shown in many people’s photos are just one set of many and many and many throughout the hike! The other very dangerous part which is where we got in trouble is immediately after the petroglyph panel, you have to climb over a Boulder to get to the next part of the trail. This isn’t just a small or medium Boulder, it’s a 6 foot high Boulder on a 45 degree slope. Very difficult and scary! Please consider your group members before going on this hike! My 84 year old mother is a very active and healthy woman. Plays tennis and golf several
Times and week and walks on a regular basis. She needed to be supported the entire trail. We physically had to hold her with very strong grips. And finally, make sure you have plenty of time left before sunset. We did not, and that added to our stress!

Those are the warnings you should know!
Written 13 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Petroglyph Point Hike - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Petroglyph Point Hike