Petroglyphs & Petrified Forest

My dad told me I had to visit Petroglyph National Monument—and when the barista at the coffee shop in Sawmill Market agreed, that sealed the deal. Whether or not you’re into ancient rock carvings, it’s just a really beautiful place to go for a walk.

You get incredible views of Albuquerque and the mountains, and the petroglyphs are etched into old volcanic rock—remnants of a 200,000-year-old lava flow. Most of the carvings were made 400 to 700 years ago by Ancestral Puebloans and early Spanish settlers. It’s wild to think that this was a form of communication. I’d love to know what each symbol means—or how people back then interpreted them. It really makes you pause when you’re standing in front of something carved by human hands centuries ago.

The park ranger at the entrance was incredibly kind and walked me through the four or five trail options. Plus, it’s a great place to meet fellow travelers and swap tips and recommendations. Such a nice way to spend an afternoon!

Now, on to Petrified Forest—a halfway point between Albuquerque and my next long-term stop: Phoenix. I stayed at the KOA in Holbrook, which was… fine. Holbrook’s an interesting little town, and that’s all I’ll say about that.

I didn’t do a deep dive into Petrified Forest—I was just passing through—so I opted for a slow drive through the park and the Painted Desert. The views were stunning. You could easily spend a whole weekend wandering the trails. It’s wild to imagine there was once a massive forest here, and that the trees eventually turned to stone—technically, quartz—harder than most rocks!

If I could do it again, I’d pack a lunch and take my time. Find a scenic spot, enjoy a picnic, and let the place sink in. Honestly, I was running on empty by then. Between all the stops leading up to Phoenix, I was exhausted and just didn’t have the energy to explore the way I wanted to. Once I hit Phoenix, I finally got a chance to rest and reset.

Still, both of these places are 100% worth visiting. If you’re anywhere within an hour or so, make the detour.

That’s all for now—gotta get a propane refill.

Kat