I was born in Albuquerque and have spent most of my life living here. I’ve also spent time in most every weekday in the last nine years on I-25, driving north and south to and from work.

It’s odd, then, that it was only a few years ago that I actually noticed the three hills that dotted the plain west of the metro area, visible from that I-25 stretch.

And it took until today for me to realize I could go visit them.

This morning I got up fairly early with a need to get outside, so my original destination was Petroglyph National Monument. Locals will mention “going to the Petroglyphs on the West Side”, and I always assumed the destination was singular. I learned today that the Petroglyph park encompasses not one, not two, not three, but four visitor destinations.

Piedras Marcadas Canyon and Boca Negra Canyon are both nestled amidst developed neighborhoods within Albuquerque, and both contain heavy concentrations of petroglyph artwork.

The good padre was glyphbombed in this portrait.

The park’s Visitor Center sits uniquely as its own little stop on Unser Boulevard, a building on park land, but interestingly enough, not offering access to any trails or destinations.

Go south on Unser half a mile and you are at the parking area and entrance to Rinconada Canyon, a quiet, 2.2 mile round trip trail loop which features desert life and petroglyph decorated volcanic boulders scattered along its north side.

I stopped and walked the trail early this morning, and besides photographing earth, sky, and ancient doodles, I enjoyed seeing or hearing rabbits, lizards and quail in the nearby brush.

At the Visitor’s Center, I was also grateful to learn that “the three hills” I knew from looking west on I-25 were also part of the park, and visitor accessible! Also known as “The Sisters” to locals, they resided in a section of the park farther west, called The Volcanoes.

Mid-morning, I left Rinconada Canyon and took Unser Boulevard on south to I-40, which I then took west to Atrisco Vista Boulevard, and once on Atrisco, I headed north about 5 miles to the The Volcanos Day Use Area turn off. Featuring a nice parking area, tables for picnickers, and some facilities, the Volcanos area features nearly 4 miles of trails that circle and/or summit each of the “three hills” I came to visit- except that those “hills” are three grouped cones in a “spine” of volcanoes dotting the West Mesa.

The Volcanoes parking area, with JA Volcano behind it, the southmost volcano.

Black Volcano, and Vulcan Volcano beyond it on north.

I walked the open trails in this section of the park from south to north, visiting first JA Volcano, whose trails to its summit were closed, and then cresting Black Volcano, the middle hill with an amazing view over the Rio Grande Valley and back across the city to the Sandia and Manzano mountains. Black Volcano received the most traffic due to its height and proximity to the parking area.

JA Volcano, looking south from the top of Black Volcano.

Looking east over Albuquerque from on top Black Volcano.

Vulcan Volcano, north from the vantage point on top of Black Volcano.

A little farther north of Black Volcano was Vulcan Volcano, which had no foot traffic when I went and walked to it, although I did cross paths with two mountain bikers. Vulcan ended up having a trail loop that allowed visitors to partially summit it, but all ascent paths to its top were closed, and the loop descended the back side of the mound, and provided a return path to the parking area.

Lava belch on top of Vulcan Volcano.

I spent nearly three hours at Volcanoes and got some good exercise, a range of interesting photos, and at least some familiarity with these West Mesa standouts.

Now, when I see them as I am driving to or from work on I-25, I can properly greet them as acquaintances.