Petroglyph Point Trail,
Mesa Verde National Park
The Petroglyph Point Trail is located near the Spruce Tree House dwelling. The National Park Service requests that you register your name and car details before commencing your hike — you can do this either at the trailhead or at the museum. The trail is a lot of fun and quite strenuous at times — you can collect a leaflet and enjoy an interpretive guide along the way.
At several locations you will have to crawl or fit through some large boulders. Look carefully to see signs of small dwellings where the Ancient Puebloans once lived. The petroglyphs are some of the best I've seen compared to others in the southwest.
Elevation
The Petroglyph Point Trail has a maximum elevation of 6,955 ft., a minimum elevation of 6,696 ft. and an elevation range of 259 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 2.4 mi | 6,696 ft | 6,955 ft | 259 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 1.0 hr | 14.2 | 170 ft | 103 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 1.0 hrs | 8.6 | 103 ft | 170 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Petroglyph Point Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Cortez, CO
- North Topo Map: Point Lookout, CO
- Northeast Topo Map: Mancos, CO
- West Topo Map: Wetherill Mesa, CO
- Topo Map: Moccasin Mesa, CO
- East Topo Map: Trail Canyon, CO
- Southwest Topo Map: Moqui Canyon, CO
- South Topo Map: Greasewood Canyon, CO
- Southeast Topo Map: Red Horse Gulch, CO
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Petroglyph Point Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Petroglyph Point Trail?
The length of the trail is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) or 5,221 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Petroglyph Point Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 1.0 hour in one direction and in 1.0 hours in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) may be present in this area. The American dog tick transmits Tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) may be present in this area. The Rocky Mountain wood tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, and Tularemia.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.