The lava field preserved in this large desert park, west of the Rio Grande, is adorned with more than 20,000 ancient petroglyphs. Take exit 154 off I-40 to reach the visitor center, 5.5 miles northwest of Old Town, and choose a hiking trail. Boca Negra Canyon is the busiest; Rinconada Canyon – the longest at 2.2 miles round-trip – offers the most solitude; and Piedras Marcadas holds 300 petroglyphs. Smash-and-grab thefts have been reported, so don't leave valuables in your vehicle.
