description Three Rivers Petroglyphs Overview
The Three Rivers Petroglyph Site is located in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico, on the western slope of the Sacramento Mountains. Managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, it preserves over 21,000 rock carvings created primarily by the Jornada Mogollon people between approximately 900 and 1400 CE. The petroglyphs depict geometric patterns, animal and human figures, and abstract designs, making the site one of the largest concentrations of rock art in the American Southwest attributed to this pre-Columbian cultural group.
help Three Rivers Petroglyphs FAQ
Who carved the Three Rivers Petroglyphs?
Most of the carvings are attributed to the Jornada Mogollon people, who lived in southern New Mexico. The Bureau of Land Management dates the site's principal carving activity to roughly AD 200 through 1450.
What images appear at Three Rivers Petroglyphs?
Visitors can see geometric designs, masks, handprints, animals, birds, and human figures pecked through dark rock patina. More than 21,000 individual images have been recorded across the site.
How long is the petroglyph trail?
The main Petroglyph Trail is approximately one mile long and climbs along a rocky ridge. A separate short Village Trail leads to the remains of a Jornada Mogollon settlement associated with the people who likely made the carvings.
Can visitors touch the petroglyphs at Three Rivers?
The carvings should be viewed without touching, tracing, chalking, or climbing on the marked rocks. Three Rivers is protected federal land managed by the BLM's Las Cruces District, and disturbing archaeological resources is prohibited.
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