Round Trip Distance: 0.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6262 - 6310 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 45 mins.
Trailhead: 36.58261, -107.45505
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs, pictograph
A short distance up Martinez Canyon from Carrizo Canyon, east of Bloomfield, New Mexico, there are a couple of large panels of petroglyphs. One of the panels also has a large red anthropomorphic figure that we are supposing is a Yei. Both panels have quite a few interesting petroglyphs that include large cranes and anthropomorphic images.
For turn-by-turn directions to a good place to park along County Road 492 enter 36.58261, -107.45505 into your driving app. The fastest and smoothest route is the one that has you head east on US-64 to County Road 366 and turn right. After another 10.8 miles go left after crossing the wash on County Road 492 where it is only about another 3 tenths of a mile to where you can pull over out of the way on the right. These roads get a lot of oilfield traffic which includes large tanker trucks so be sure to park well out of the way.
The rock art is on the east side of the deep wash that runs down Martinez Canyon. One of the panels is visible from the road while the other is mostly concealed behind a tree. To get across the wash head up the side of the wash to where you can see a pipe crossing the wash and you will find an easy trail to follow into the wash where you can head down until you find another suitable place to climb back out.
The panel on the right has 3 images of cranes on the left side with a large number of anthros throughout.
In some cases cranes were meant to have a relationship with snow. Whether as a type of weather magic I'm uncertain.
A row of anthros can be seen across the top of the panel. The long streams of dots descend from several of their crotches.
Here is a figure wielding a spear and shield who's head in profile reveals facial features.
Here's another image of a crane.
Here's a few of the other images from the same panel.
The panels to the left have less patina to provide contrast to their images.
The large red figure is holding something like short wands in each hand. Over its head is a red and white band.
A few more images from the Red Shaman Panel.
This spot seems to have been selected for its rock art because of a very nice habitable bench right below the images that made a pleasant place from which to view the rest of Martinez Canyon.
If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
