Entry No. 27 — the Albuquerque file — filed under: outsider art
Pueblo Montaño Chainsaw Sculpture Garden
After a 2003 wildfire burned 250 acres of the Rio Grande Bosque, retired firefighter and artist Mark Chavez transformed charred cottonwood tree stumps into a walk-through outdoor sculpture sanctuary. His intricate chainsaw carvings feature local wildlife, a heroic firefighter subduing a dragon, and New Mexican folklore figure La Llorona.
The story
In 2003, teenagers playing with fireworks ignited a fire that devoured 250 acres of the Rio Grande Bosque, leaving behind a quiet wasteland of charred cottonwood stumps. Rather than letting the blackened remains rot into the soil, Mark Chavez—an Albuquerque firefighter who helped extinguish the blaze—returned to the burn zone armed with chainsaws, die grinders, sanders, and propane burners. Working directly on the rooted dead trees, he carved a public folk-art sanctuary straight out of the disaster.
Chavez turned the killed wood into an eccentric memorial honoring both local wildlife and the firefighters who battled the flames. As you wander off the main path, you'll spot carved coyotes, cranes, beavers, and an eagle rising from flames. Look closely among the shadows for La Llorona—the weeping ditch witch of New Mexican folklore—and a life-sized firefighter standing with his boot pressed firmly onto the head of a slain dragon, which happens to be firefighter slang for a raging blaze.
What it's like
You'll pull into the trailhead lot right off Montaño Road, where paved, wheelchair-accessible walkways quickly branch off into quiet dirt paths running under the regrown cottonwood canopy. It's a breezy, relaxed stretch along the Paseo del Bosque trail system, mostly populated by local birdwatchers, morning cyclists, and leashed dogs. The carvings are scattered around the picnic area and trees—some sitting right beside the concrete path, others tucked further into the shade—so take your time scanning the tree trunks. Stick strictly to the designated trails so you don't trample the recovering flora, bring water, and go early in the morning to snag a parking spot before the weekend crowd arrives.
The move: Take a quiet stroll down the dirt trails under the cottonwood canopy, hunting for hidden chainsaw-carved coyotes, eagles, and La Llorona standing among the regrown flora.
- 📍 North Valley
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 4101 Montaño Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- The Wellness Yurt at Los Poblanos — Follow up your walk among Chavez's cottonwood carvings with a crystal bowl sound session tucked inside another cottonwood grove less than a mile up North Valley.
- Vernon's Speakeasy — Trade daylight folk art in the Bosque for a steak dinner behind an unmarked black door in Los Ranchos.
- Mama's Minerals — Swap carved wood wildlife for raw geodes, rare mineral specimens, and meteorites just a short drive east.
Good to know
Who carved the sculptures at Pueblo Montaño?
Retired Albuquerque firefighter and self-taught chainsaw artist Mark Chavez carved them directly into dead cottonwood trunks left behind by the 2003 fire.
What specific figures can I find in the garden?
Look for native animals like eagles, coyotes, cranes, and beavers, alongside folklore icon La Llorona and a firefighter stepping on a slain dragon.
Are dogs allowed in the sculpture garden?
Yes, dogs on leashes are welcome throughout the sculpture garden and on the adjacent Bosque trails, with waste bag stations provided at the trailhead.
Is the trail accessible for wheelchairs or strollers?
Yes, the core sculpture garden loop at the Pueblo Montaño Picnic Area features paved concrete paths, benches, and accessible picnic tables.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · cabq.gov · hubpages.com · hiddensecretsnm.wordpress.com
last checked: 2026-07-21