Round Trip Distance: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 6770 - 7512 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 2 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Big Arsenic
Fee: $3/vehicle
Attractions: Scenic gorge, petroglyphs
Enroute to Big Arsenic Spring, within the scenic gorge of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, near Taos, New Mexico, petroglyphs can be found on many of the boulders along the trail. Most of the petroglyphs have a hunting theme but one that shows a birthing scene speaks of life in general.
For turn-by-turn directions to the trailhead enter 'Big Arsenic Trail' into your driving app. From Highway 522 you will be directed through the town of Cerro and shortly after you will pass into the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. At the 15.1 mile point continue straight on the loop road. (Your driving app might be directing you to turn right at this point but after passing the Wild Rivers Visitor Center the road becomes one-way.) The trailhead is reached at the 15.4 mile point from NM 522.
As the trail descends from the mesa it follows a fun to hike, well constructed, trail that clings to the wall of the gorge.
Interpretive kiosks along the way provide many details about the gorges ecosystem.
Dramatic views of the Rio Grande add to the esthetic pleasures of the hike.
After crossing the foot bridge over the stream from Big Arsenic Spring the campground along the river begins. For the next quarter mile petroglyphs can be found on some of the boulders on both sides of the trail.
The waypoints that we set are all for boulders within 10 feet or so of the trail.
Be sure to check the tops as well as all sides of the boulders for images.
On one of the little mesas there is a side trail that leads into a rock garden where the majority of the petroglyphs can be found. A 'Who Passed this Way' sign reminds visitors to respect Americas past by doing nothing to cause damage to its archeological resources.
On the right there is a large boulder with over a dozen images of big game animals on one side.
On the left side of the same boulder there is an image of a woman giving birth.
Another woman and a lot more images cover the top of the same boulder.
Other images like these footprints and game animals can be found on several of the smaller boulders in the same area.
Here is what looks like an elk that is becoming overgrown with lichen.
Further along the trail past the rock garden we only noticed a couple more images but this one was kind of neat.
Besides deer and elk there are bighorn sheep in the area. We didn't notice any within the gorge but did see this ram along the road right before turning into the Big Arsenic trailhead. While hiking through the campground along the river we noticed some bear scat.
Our late in the afternoon start gave us a crepuscular finish bringing another day to an end. Had we turned around at the last of the petroglyphs we would have beat the setting sun but as they say 'all's well that ends well'.
Supposing that the ancient people that lived in the gorge, for at least part of the year, enjoyed it as much as we did merely hiking in it they surely had a happy life. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
Supposing that the ancient people that lived in the gorge, for at least part of the year, enjoyed it as much as we did merely hiking in it they surely had a happy life. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
