Exploring Painted Rock Petroglyph Site in Arizona

About 20 miles west of Gila Bend, Arizona, there is a sign on Interstate 8 to alert you to the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. What the sign doesn't tell you though is just how amazing Painted Rock is.

On a small hill covered in boulders there are at least 3,800 petroglyphs to be found, with some dating back at least 1,400 years. The site is small, but the amount of petroglyphs to be found here is incredible.

The earliest petroglyphs were likely created by the Hohokam or Patayan cultures, but the site was used for centuries, and even the Spanish and early American pioneers carved into the rocks as they passed by.

This is easily one of the best petroglyph sites I've ever seen.

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site is located at 33.02309509496982, -113.04951286909586

[DovieRuthAuthor]

Definitely, a best kept secret. These petroglyphs are better than many of the more noted ones. Thanks, Steve!

[ChrisW-]

Haven't been there in probably 30 years. At that time, the area was not fenced off and you could actually walk among the rocks. Crazy to see the high concentration of petroglyphs at that site.

[woodturner]

Spent a week camping there back summer of 2019. The skies at night are unbelievably clear for star gazing

[boomtownrat]

I enjoy going to these petroglyph sites. In the Las Vegas area, just north, is Nevada’s first state park, The Valley of Fire. Beside the obvious, the beautiful sandstone formations that will provide you sensory overload, there is an area of petroglyphs. The park service provides a stair system that is supported by scaffolding which takes you up high into the rocks, so that you can see the petroglyphs. Worth the trip to see.

[afletchermansson]

Time flies...even A.A.T.'s unwanted additions are almost a century old. As you mentioned, we can only imagine the stories told by generations of tribal members around these petroglyphs. Thank you for your story!

[ScratchGlass]

Thank you Steve ! Such fascinating history to stand and behold.

[alanzeleznikar]

I drive past this exit every month or so, I guess it's time to take the small detour and check this out.

[theturnersontheroad]

That is magnificent. That is now on my list of things to do.... Thank you for another well done video.

Peace and love,
Jim and Dawn

[dezertraider]

THANK YOU STEVE, , .WOW SKY IS A MESS...IF EVER IN CANYONLANDS UTAH, STOP IN NEWSPAPER ROCK..THIS WAS COOL AND THANK YOU AGAIN..SAFE TRAVELS..

[CactusAtlas]

Hahah! Looks like we've been on the same wavelength - we've got some petroglyphs coming up in the coming weeks as well. Different sites though. Haven't been to this one yet! Very cool! Those things are EVERYwhere out there in the most surprising of places. It's likely they were an overlap of Hohokam and Patayan as you mention as there is evidence of an overlap within Phoenix as well.

[joewenzel]

I found my first stash of petroglyphs in the Rodman Mountains south of Newberry Springs, CA back in 2002 and took so many pictures of them. Back when I used film and had to make another trip back to get pics of them all as a roll of film only had like 30 shots on it.

[RWX]

I drove in there once a couple years ago to check out the campground for a future visit, but I didn't go over to look at the petroglyphs. Well, now I know I need to go back to camp and look around more. Thank you for posting this video, along with the history. Another winner Steve.🙂

[eileenirwin]

Thank you, Steve, for another great informative video. See you next week. 😃❤👍

[foesfly]

I used to soar a hang glider from Oatman Mountain which is in the distance, behind your left shoulder, in your opening scene. I love that area for the memories of awesome flights and very good friends there.

[ME-qrkq]

Years ago when I used to go 4x4in a group I was with went out past Kramer Junction 395 and 58 by the Federal Prison there are drawings like this on the Canyon walls. Pretty cool.

[marks.schwartz]

Amazing video, Steve !!! Thanks for sharing !!!

[scottpartlow]

Way Cool. One of the 1st Art Galleries and still going.

[AndyMetz-xq]

We live in a Yuma, and visited there with our boys when they were teenagers. Amazing spot, and worth the effort to get there. The desert in that area is littered with volcanic debris, for about 25-30 west, from an ancient explosion. Very empty part of the desert. If there's major weather (thunderstorms, etc.) occurring in the desert between Phoenix and Yuma, it's generally in this area. A borderland in more ways than one.

[joegrossinger]

Excellent video. Very interesting. Thanks

[negringo]

Glad this popped up on my feed . Well done, excellent quality, I especially liked the cadence of your speech worked well with the cinematography . Looking forward to watching more .