I took an early flight to New Mexico so I’d be able to pick some stuff up in Albuquerque before heading to the hotel. But it also meant that I got to meet my coworker Mike who had stayed the weekend and go do something fun!
We decided to check out the Volcanoes Day Use Area on the western edge of the Petroglyph National Monument. I had visited the portions of the monument that feature the petroglyphs that give it it’s name back in 2010. But the Volcanoes Day Use Area is very different. There are no petroglyphs here. Instead there are simply the remnants of 3 large volcanic cones protruding from the otherwise fairly flat ground.
Mike and I arrived shortly before 2pm. With plenty of sunlight remaining we decided to do the longest version of the hike and visit all three cinder cones. We set off to the north toward the Vulcan Volcano first. The hike there was nothing too difficult. While it appears you are no longer permitted to climb to the top the trail goes through a large cut that appears on the northern edge of the cone. The exposed volcanic rock all around is fascinating, as is the shape of this landscape, a fairly flat area between two sharp inclines on either side. The trail continues east and then drops off behind the cone, heading south.
Next up is the Black Volcano. Visitors are still permitted to climb to the summit of Black Volcano. From here the views in all directions are unobstructed. We visited on a clear day and could easily see all of Albuquerque.
We continued south toward JA Volcano, the final cone. This cone you can approach but cannot climb to the summit either. From the JA Volcano back to the parking lot is paved, while the rest of the trail systems are not meaning they are less accessible to the disabled or those that have difficulty walking on uneven ground.
Mike and I spent about an hour and twenty minutes hiking the loop among the three volcanoes. I would recommend this hike to anyone that is in the area and looking for something light hearted to do but still off the beaten path. The hike was not strenuous but was almost entirely on uneven rocky ground and did included some climbing up and down hills. The views that were available though are special and worth the visit.
