petroglyph point hike

We are from Florida and this was the first time my two boys (11 & 7) had gone on any type of hiking. We originally were just going to see the cliff dwellings but when they saw the sign for the hike they were adamant about going. The bottom half of the hike is absolutely beautiful. It is mostly shaded and the trail is not flat. There were plenty of rocks to climb and a couple of narrow points between rocks to get through. Before making the climb up you have to climb a very large rock which was about three foot or more with nothing to hold onto. Thankfully there was a young man that had passed us and stayed to give me a lift. The climb up was strenuous for us but beautiful which helped take our minds off of the workout. We got to the top which was flat but directly in the sun. The views from the top are breath taking. Head others warnings and take PLENTY of water. If we ever get back up here I will definitely do this again.

Breath taking view. Fantastic path with steps, tunnels and ledge views. Well worth the hike. Take water and a jacket if late in the day.

It's definitely a hike and not just a scenic stop, so make sure you pack water and plan to start before too late in the afternoon, since they close the trail at 5pm and you have to complete the loop to get out. They say it takes 2 hours, and even though I hike quickly it took almost that long to get to the end. It's a lot of hiking for just a few feet of petroglyphs, but they're still pretty cool to see, so that was fine by us. Be sure to donate some change for the trail guide. We opted to hike without it and found ourselves lamenting that we had no idea what the 30+ trail markers were pointing out along the way.

This was one of our favorite hikes. The lower section of the trail is much harder to navigate than the return portion which is on top of the canyon. The upper or "returning" section is better for less experienced hikers

This hike will take you over an hour and a lot more, depending upon your level of fitness. There are many interesting obstacles, narrow passage ways, stairs and changes of elevation to deal with as you take the sites in. We weren't taken aback by the petroglyphs and instead found the journey to be the reward. Do not take this hike lightly, but do take it if you're comfortable with the idea of a more difficult hike than most others in the area. For us, the thin air made it more challenging than normal as we are from sea level.

If you're relatively young, in good shape and have no physical limitations, this is probably a short, easy hike. If you're not, this is going to be a challenging hike. Since we utilize Fitbits, we learned that this hike is also definitely longer than the 2.4 miles advertised. We agree that this hike is not for the faint of heart. If you're over 60, be prepared to be tested, unless you are in good shape and an avid hiker.

This is a 5 mile hike with amazing views and something different to see around every corner. The first half of the hike is up and down with rocky terrain. The other half of the hike is along the top of the mesa which gives you a flat ground. I think this is one of the best hikes I have ever done.

This hike takes you to the petroglyphs it it tough for us older folks but not impossible. But just as important it shows how the people got around the short period they lived here.

This Amazing hike was one of the highlights of our trip... But it Is strenuous for older folks who aren't as fit...especially on a hot day. Heed the warnings and take plenty of water. This hike gives you the chance to "feel" Mesa Verde as its inhabitants did 1000 years ago. Most of the time we were alone on the trail. It was peaceful and a beautiful journey through the canyon from bottom to top. You will not be disappointed!

You should start your hike with a visit at the Spruce Tree House. This is a cliff dwelling to be visited in a self-guided tour free of charge. Some rangers are there to help and explain – I my opinion that visit is almost as good as the guided tours to Cliff Palace or the Balcony House. Right after you exit the dwelling the Petroglyph trail departs toward the right. The track is partially pretty narrow, you have to climb some high steps etc. and you are rewarded with some really breath taking views. The experience is really great. The crowd never comes here, so you can relax and wind down. At the petroglyph point you might find some time to wonder about how the ancient people might have felt, when this was their territory. A real nice trail, take your time and enjoy it!

What a nice hike this one is. Bring a stick, it will make the hike easier, the terrain is very uneven. The path goes up a long way, over stones and carved staircases. It is a very well marked trail, breath taking scenery.At the beginning of the trail you can buy a brochure (suggested donation $ 1) where 27 points of interest along the trail are explained.The petroglyphs are nice, but the hike itself was a highlight. Tip: taking pics of the petroglyphs is difficult in the afternoon (summertime) when the sunlight shines trough the leaves leaving patterns ON the petroglyphs....After the petroglyphs you hike further up for a minute or 10, when you see the sign "Museum" (hilarious, in the middle of 'nowhere') you've made it to the remainder of the hike over flat terrain! And, yes, you will end up at the Museum....

We took this hike after visiting some of the dwellings at Mesa Verde. It is about a 2.5-3 mile moderate hike and took us about an hour and a half. On the way up you do go over some mountainous rocks since you are going up the canyon; on the way down you are walking back to the museum and the surface is much flatter. There weren't a lot of people on the trail, so that was nice. It does take a while to get to the actual Petroglyphs, so be patient. The views as you are hiking are very nice and on the way back down we saw a very colorful collared lizard.

Short hike. There is a guide at the site to give you one on one info. Most petroglyphs ever found. Great way to tap into the culture and history of the area.

take this hike! it is a 2.5 mile loop, moderate. We did it early in the morning and were in the shade all of the way. Phenomenal views.

Great hike to some very cool petroglyphs. I went to Mesa Verde with my 67 yr old mom, I am 41, and she stayed back at Spruce Tree House and the Museum while I did this hike. It would have been too strenuous for her. For me, it was good. I am in moderate shape so I was a bit out of breathe and had to scramble but it was all worth it. The hike without the petroglyphs would be worth it -- stunning views the whole time. The petroglyphs are just the cherry on top. Very quiet hike, not a lot of people on the path. On you way to the petroglyphs you are about halfway up the canyon wall on the path. Path is pretty clear until you are scrambling up the rocks right after the petroglyphs and then you want to pay pretty close attention until you have leveled out at the top of the canyon and it is smooth sailing back. Took me about 2 1/2 hrs to do the entire loop. Felt great after. Bring lots of water. I did it in the morning and the first half was cool and shady but my noon when I was on the top of the canyon walls, there is no shade and very hot (in end of June). I highly recommend this hike if you are physically up to it. You do have to go from the bottom of the canyon up to the top so there is a steady elevation change. And you do have to scramble up rocks without any guardrails or protection but only for a little bit right after you've seen the petroglyphs.