Prehistoric Trackways National Monument

Prehistoric Trackways National Monument is a 5,280-acre Bureau of Land Management site in the Robledo Mountains, 10 miles northwest of Las Cruces in Doña Ana County, south-central New Mexico. The monument preserves one of the world's most significant Early Permian paleontological sites, featuring fossilized footprints, plants, and petrified wood from approximately 280 million years ago—predating dinosaurs. Visitors hike through canyons and washes to view trace fossils from amphibians, reptiles, insects, and marine invertebrates. Collection of fossils or minerals requires a permit. Access requires a high-clearance vehicle for the final mile; water, toilets, and cell service are unavailable on-site.