Pedernal Sacred Mountain of The Jemez Mountains

Pedernal is the most recognized mountain in Northern New Mexico. A must see attraction on any visit to Santa Fe, it's the hike of a lifetime.

The traditional Spanish name for this majestic southwest landmark is Cerro Pedernal. The Spanish translation for its name is literally flint hill. Located in the Jemez Mountain Range just north of Abiquiu Lake, it is about 50 miles north of Santa Fe. The mountain was formed by a volcanic process. Stone left behind was used by the Gallina people during the pueblo period (1200 AD) to make stone tools and arrowheads.

Hike Pedernal

Although the views from the summit of Pedernal offer some of the most spectacular sights in the southwest, this sacred mountain is seldom climbed. The daunting shape and cliff band that rings the flat topped butte make it a climb you should take with the help of an experienced guide. If you take the time to make the climb to the summit, your reward will be views of the Sangre di Cristo Mountains all the way into Colorado. Pedernal commands the middle of the Jemez Mountains, a lush green rolling mountain range. To the west you can see the spectacular colors of the high desert of New Mexico.

Find Artifacts

The remote location and sacred value of Cerro Pedernal to the native people make it a wealth of archeological treasures. If you have a sharp eye and patience, you can be rewarded by finding an ancient arrowhead or pottery chard. It is said removing these artifacts from the mountain will bring unhappy karma into one's life, so remember if you do find artifacts, leave them on the mountain. This sacred mountain played an important economic part in native cultures in Northern New Mexico for at least ten thousand years. Implements made from chert, the name of the quartz stone from the mountain have been found in native pueblos hundreds of miles from Pedernal.

Artistic Landscape

Pedernal, and the surrounding landscape, are favorite subjects for local artists. One of the most famous artists devoted to painting this spectacular natural treasure was Georgia O'Keeffe. While living at Ghost Ranch, her house claimed incredible vistas of the mountain. Pedernal was one of her favorite subjects. She said God told her she could have it if she painted it enough. Many of her most famous works feature Pedernal as a subject or, included somewhere in the painting. Anytime of the year will inspire your creativity around this majestic mountain. Take your pastels, watercolors, or whatever medium you love and capture your vision of Cerro Pedernal.