Petroglyph National Monument
National parks bring us closer together, connecting us with culture and history. They become the setting for precious moments and lasting impressions. One park in Albuquerque, New Mexico has been doing all of this and more.
4 Min. Watch | Hiking

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[00:00:00.00] Shrubs dot a desert landscape. Text, Sarah.

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[00:00:04.49] It's really special to have a sanctuary like this so close to home.

[00:00:09.23] There's still ceremony here. There's still a lot of power here.

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[00:00:13.25] Nikki. Brandon.

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[00:00:14.60] Every time I come out here with my family it brings us that much closer together.

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[00:00:20.45] People hike through the park.

[00:00:23.12] Text, Petroglyph National Monument.

[00:00:26.65] Two men in backpacks amble down a trail.

[00:00:28.82] Text, The Petroglyph National Monument is a wonderland of volcanic rock and ancestral Native American art.

[00:00:35.68] All within the city limits of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[00:00:39.48] Brandon cooks.

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[00:00:41.50] I feel very blessed to be able to live so close to a national monument. We can't always get out and travel and go to different parks and monuments, but my family and I are able to jump in our car, drive five minutes, and feel removed from the city.

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[00:00:58.07] A line on a map traces the route from Albuquerque to the monument, moving west, then north, to the large green section on the map. An SUV, sedan, and Volkswagen bus drive down the road. A sign reads, National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior. Petroglyph National Monument.

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[00:01:16.39] This is really neat.

[00:01:17.58] A rock.

[00:01:18.31] It's a rock, that's right

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[00:01:20.52] A girl straddles a pit.

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[00:01:22.59] OK, I could see him right there.

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[00:01:25.00] Brandon holds up binoculars to his son.

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[00:01:27.43] I used to come here so much as a teenager, it's so peaceful. And watching my daughter discover things that she's never seen is so beautiful.

[00:01:39.19] What is that?

[00:01:40.23] And it lets me see at her level what the world is like.

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[00:01:45.85] Sarah sits with a man and her daughter.

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[00:01:48.53] There's so much to enjoy here, the geology, the nature, the hiking, the culture, and the history. We'll see petroglyphs that represent calendar and the passing of time.

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[00:02:03.25] Petroglyphs adorn rock faces.

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[00:02:05.14] There's lots of carvings here of animals and various plants. I'm just happy to be here to be able to enjoy it and know that it's protected for future generations.

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[00:02:15.53] A hand grips sand.

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[00:02:17.00] One of the first things that I like to do before coming out here and looking at the petroglyphs and walking the trails is to pray and give thanks to mother nature and to the ancestors who were once here in these areas.

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[00:02:31.83] Nikki drops sand.

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[00:02:33.32] As a native woman, these places are still very important to me. I'm just thankful that it's here to be able to teach my kids about other native tribes in hopes that it'll intrigue them to dig deeper into who they are and where they come from as well.

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[00:02:53.50] Nikki and her children look at the landscape. Hares hop along the desert. A hot air balloon hangs in the sky.

[00:03:00.69] Text, Petroglyph National Monument. 7,206 acres of protected land. 39 miles of formal trails. Over 20,000 petroglyphs. 14 minutes from the center of Albuquerque.

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[00:03:13.90] Being here really makes me remember why it's so important to go out in nature.

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[00:03:20.67] Kisses daughter.

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[00:03:21.67] We just get so busy with our lives and coming out here is almost like you can push a reset button.

[00:03:30.42] It's so beautiful.

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[00:03:32.21] The girl smiles.

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[00:03:34.03] We are lucky.

[00:03:35.44] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[00:03:36.87] Sarah and her family stand on a rock, looking out across the city.

[00:03:41.12] Text, See what parks are in your neck of the woods at Find Your Park dot com. FIND YOUR PARK.

[00:03:46.41] L.L. Bean. Be an Outsider.

[00:03:48.55] Directed, Shot and Edited by: Daniel Glick, Marc Leonard. Produced by: L.L.Bean. Production Assistance: Andres Salazar. Intro music by: Ronaldo Baca.