The mesa lies on the north flank of the Jemez Mountains, south of Abiquiu Lake, in the Coyote Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest.

Its caprock was produced in the Jemez Volcanic Field.

Pedernal is the source of a chert used by the prehistoric Gallina people.

Georgia O'Keeffe made many paintings of it, and her ashes were scattered on its top.

[3] This New Mexico state location article is a stub.