This was an unexpected gem. We toured the monument on a bright, cool, blustery New Mexico Spring day. Stopped into the Center (the trails are accessed through the back) to view a short video and pick up a trail guide (you can borrow one or buy for $2). The trail is designed to be hiked counter clockwise starting with the inscriptions and continuing to the top of the Mesa. The Mesa is scaled through a series of switchbacks with a 400 foot vertical ascent. Nothing too strenuous. The trail is well marked with some stretches across barren rock where you are exposed to the winds. The descent is mostly by stairs hewn into the rock. I suffer from Vertigo but had no trouble navigating some of the more exposed areas. I did see dogs on the trail. The hike takes over 2 hours with much of the time spent taking photos and reading inscriptions. There were about a dozen people on the trail when we were there but I suspect it gets crowded when the schools let out.