The Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground are located approximately 90
miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. The petroglyph site provides visitors the
opportunity to view an ancient archaeological site containing hundreds of
symbolic and artistic rock etchings, or "petroglyphs," produced centuries ago
by prehistoric peoples. There are also inscriptions made by people who passed
through during historic times. There is a $2 per vehicle fee for the site.
Cash or check payment is accepted.

Overnight camping is allowed at the adjacent Painted Rock Petroglyph
Campground. This is a separate facility from the petroglyph site. Camping
reservations must be made through the recreation.gov website. We no longer
accept cash or check payments for campsites. The campground has picnic tables,
grills, steel fire rings, and a vault toilet. No potable water is available at
the facility.

Several historic trails lie within the campground. The Juan Bautista de Anza
National Historic Trail, The Butterfield Overland Stage Route and the Mormon
Battalion Trail are three trails that played prominent roles in the history of
Arizona and the American West. Visitors can learn about the site and historic
trails through professional interpretive panels located on the site.

<p>The Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground are located approximately 90 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. The petroglyph site provides visitors the opportunity to view an ancient archaeological site containing hundreds of symbolic and artistic rock etchings, or "petroglyphs," produced centuries ago by prehistoric peoples. There are also inscriptions made by people who passed through during historic times. There is a $2 per vehicle fee for the site. Cash or check payment is accepted.</p>
<p>Overnight camping is allowed at the adjacent Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground.  This is a separate facility from the petroglyph site. Camping reservations must be made through the <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10041410" rel="nofollow">recreation.gov website</a>.  We no longer accept cash or check payments for campsites.  The campground has picnic tables, grills, steel fire rings, and a vault toilet.  No potable water is available at the facility.</p>
<p>Several historic trails lie within the campground. The <a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/national-scenic-and-historic-trails/Juan-Bautista-de-Anza" rel="nofollow">Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail</a>, The Butterfield Overland Stage Route and the Mormon Battalion Trail are three trails that played prominent roles in the history of Arizona and the American West. Visitors can learn about the site and historic trails through professional interpretive panels located on the site.</p>

$2.00/vehicle for day use, $8/vehicle/per night for camping

Bird's eye view of the campground

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground

## Overview

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, approximately 90 miles southwest of Phoenix,
Arizona, provides visitors the opportunity to view an archaeological site
containing hundreds of figures and designs carved into rocks, known as
petroglyphs. These were produced centuries ago by indigenous peoples. This
site is considered important and even sacred to many of the Native American
tribes in southern Arizona. Please keep this in mind when you visit and be
respectful. Climbing on the rocks is prohibited and we ask that you keep dogs
out of the area.There are also inscriptions made by people who passed through
during historic times.

Many important trails are near the site, some of which have been traveled for
thousands of years. The 1775 expedition of Juan Bautista de Anza passed nearby
on his way to deliver soldiers, padres, settlers, and their livestock to a new
home in northern California to secure the area for Spain. In 1846, the Mormon
Battalion passed through, following Philip St. George Cooke along some
segments of this trail to help secure California from Mexico. This venture
included road building tasks along the trail, assuring that future trips could
accommodate wagons. A need to improve communication and travel from east to
west prompted Congress to fund a stage line. The result was the Butterfield
Overland Stage Route, which began service in 1858 and traveled by this site.
This mail and freight service guaranteed that the mail, freight, or passengers
would be able to travel from Saint Louis to San Francisco in 25 days. Use was
halted when the railroad was constructed in 1879.

Formerly a unit of the Arizona State Park system, jurisdiction of Painted Rock
Petroglyph Site returned to the Bureau of Land Management in 1989.

## Recreation

The day-use site is right next door to the campground and offers two shaded
picnic areas and a small interpretive trail around the petroglyph site with
informational displays. The petroglyphs face the east-southeast primarily and
would have been noticed by any travelers approaching from that direction.
Hiking, birdwatching, and star gazing opportunities all present themselves at
this site.

## Facilities

The campground offers visitors 59 individual campsites and two large group
sites featuring picnic tables and steel fire rings. There is no water or
electric hookups at the campground, but there are two vault toilets and trash
collection. The neighboring day-use site has two shaded picnic areas with
tables and charcoal grills.

The path to the Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground is on 11 miles of paved
roads with an additional 1/2 mile of a dirt road. All roads in the campground
and day-use site consist of hardened dirt and gravel suitable for larger RVs
(Class A) and trailers (fifth wheels) when road conditions are dry. This area
is prone to flash flooding during monsoon season, so be sure to check the
weather before planning your visit.

## Natural Features

Set between impressive geologic features such as Oatman Mountain, a few miles
to the northwest and the Painted Rock Mountains, situated on the eastern
horizon, this campground offers scenic panoramic views and plenty of
opportunities for solitude and vast night skies. The surrounding area features
a diverse Sonoran Desert plant community including the iconic saguaro cactus,
various cholla species, barrel cactus, creosote bush, and both ironwood and
palo verde trees. The area is home to a large population of desert mule deer
and many other desert species such as kit fox, Gambel’s quail, chuckwalla, and
desert iguana.

## Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (602) 867-5400.

## Nearby Attractions

**Woolsey Peak Wilderness**

Woolsey Peak Wilderness offers rugged topography, colorful scenic vistas, rich
variety of wildlife and vegetation, and outstanding opportunities for solitude
and unconfined recreation. Woolsey Peak stands 3,270 feet above sea level and
about 2,500 feet above the Gila River (to the south). The Painted Rock Dam
flood- control dam is situated on the Gila River not far from the southwestern
corner of the area. Encompassing a major portion of the Gila Bend Mountains,
it is barely separated from the smaller Signal Mountain Wilderness to the
north.

**Signal Mountain Wilderness**

A narrow, four-wheel-drive road is all that separates Signal Mountain
Wilderness from Woolsey Peak Wilderness to the south. Signal Mountain itself,
rising just north of the center of the area, reaches a summit of 2,182 feet
(1,200 feet above the surrounding desert floor).

<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, approximately 90 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona, provides visitors the opportunity to view an archaeological site containing hundreds of figures and designs carved into rocks, known as petroglyphs. These were produced centuries ago by indigenous peoples. This site is considered important and even sacred to many of the Native American tribes in southern Arizona. Please keep this in mind when you visit and be respectful. Climbing on the rocks is prohibited and we ask that you keep dogs out of the area.There are also inscriptions made by people who passed through during historic times. </p>
<p>Many important trails are near the site, some of which have been traveled for thousands of years. The 1775 expedition of Juan Bautista de Anza passed nearby on his way to deliver soldiers, padres, settlers, and their livestock to a new home in northern California to secure the area for Spain. In 1846, the Mormon Battalion passed through, following Philip St. George Cooke along some segments of this trail to help secure California from Mexico. This venture included road building tasks along the trail, assuring that future trips could accommodate wagons. A need to improve communication and travel from east to west prompted Congress to fund a stage line. The result was the Butterfield Overland Stage Route, which began service in 1858 and traveled by this site. This mail and freight service guaranteed that the mail, freight, or passengers would be able to travel from Saint Louis to San Francisco in 25 days. Use was halted when the railroad was constructed in 1879.</p>
<p>Formerly a unit of the Arizona State Park system, jurisdiction of Painted Rock Petroglyph Site returned to the Bureau of Land Management in 1989.</p>
<h2>Recreation</h2>
<p>The day-use site is right next door to the campground and offers two shaded picnic areas and a small interpretive trail around the petroglyph site with informational displays. The petroglyphs face the east-southeast primarily and would have been noticed by any travelers approaching from that direction. Hiking, birdwatching, and star gazing opportunities all present themselves at this site. </p>
<h2>Facilities</h2>
<p>The campground offers visitors 59 individual campsites and two large group sites featuring picnic tables and steel fire rings. There is no water or electric hookups at the campground, but there are two vault toilets and trash collection. The neighboring day-use site has two shaded picnic areas with tables and charcoal grills.</p>
<p>The path to the Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground is on 11 miles of paved roads with an additional 1/2 mile of a dirt road. All roads in the campground and day-use site consist of hardened dirt and gravel suitable for larger RVs (Class A) and trailers (fifth wheels) when road conditions are dry. This area is prone to flash flooding during monsoon season, so be sure to check the weather before planning your visit.</p>

<h2>Natural Features</h2>
<p>Set between impressive geologic features such as Oatman Mountain, a few miles to the northwest  and the Painted Rock Mountains, situated on the eastern horizon, this campground offers scenic panoramic views and plenty of opportunities for solitude and vast night skies. The surrounding area features a diverse Sonoran Desert plant community including the iconic saguaro cactus, various cholla species, barrel cactus, creosote bush, and both ironwood and palo verde trees. The area is home to a large population of desert mule deer and many other desert species such as kit fox, Gambel’s quail, chuckwalla, and desert iguana.</p>

<h2>Contact Info</h2>
For facility specific information, please call (602) 867-5400.
<h2>Nearby Attractions</h2>
<p><strong>Woolsey Peak Wilderness</strong></p>
<p>Woolsey Peak Wilderness offers rugged topography, colorful scenic vistas, rich variety of wildlife and vegetation, and outstanding opportunities for solitude and unconfined recreation. Woolsey Peak stands 3,270 feet above sea level and about 2,500 feet above the Gila River (to the south). The Painted Rock Dam flood- control dam is situated on the Gila River not far from the southwestern corner of the area. Encompassing a major portion of the Gila Bend Mountains, it is barely separated from the smaller Signal Mountain Wilderness to the north. </p>
<p><strong>Signal Mountain Wilderness</strong></p>
<p>A narrow, four-wheel-drive road is all that separates Signal Mountain Wilderness from Woolsey Peak Wilderness to the south. Signal Mountain itself, rising just north of the center of the area, reaches a summit of 2,182 feet (1,200 feet above the surrounding desert floor). </p>

The fee for the standard, accessible and group sites is $8.00 per vehicle per
night- all sites are first-come, first-serve. This is a Scan and Pay
campground. There are no refunds, modifications, cancellations, or other fee
changes allowed with Scan and Pay payments. This system is the same as putting
cash into a fee tube and cannot be refunded.

Located within the campground, this picnic Ramada offers 4 additional tables for a shaded break or lunch.

A long covered pavilion provides a shaded picnic area in the desert

View is facing Northeast with the camp host site located in the left side of picture.

Alternate view of vault toilet building

Welcome to the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground!

Entrance Portal Sign

View is facing West with the Petroglyph site in the background.

Alternate view of Day Use picnic Ramada

Campground additional picnic area

Visitors can enjoy a stop for lunch under the shaded picnic Ramada.

Day Use picnic area

Single vault toilet connected to accessible site #36 with crushed granite pathway.

West single vault toilet with parking and cement walkway

Two separate vault toilets located a short walk from the camp host site and campground picnic Ramada. These are primitive facilities that do not have running water.

Vault toilet facility

Take a short walk around the Petroglyphs to learn about cultural history, surrounding geologic features, and wildlife.

View facing West from Day Use interpretive trail

Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground

The BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office manages 1.4 million acres of public land in
south-central Arizona, including the half million acre Sonoran Desert National
Monument, located 60 miles southwest of Phoenix. The Monument contains
biologically diverse national communities, including large Saguaro cactus
forests and contains many significant archaeological and historic sites. In an
effort to rehabilitate damage from off-highway vehicles, access to about 20
percent of the monument has been temporarily closed to motorized use. Public
lands within this field office are near developed and expanding communities
and are heavily used. The lands are managed for multiple use and provide
diverse recreational opportunities, mining, wildlife habitat, grazing, and
wilderness, all overlaying a rich cultural past. The field office oversees six
wilderness areas, four Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, the Juan
Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail and one property listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.

<p>The BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office manages 1.4 million acres of public land in south-central Arizona, including the half million acre Sonoran Desert National Monument, located 60 miles southwest of Phoenix. The Monument contains biologically diverse national communities, including large Saguaro cactus forests and contains many significant archaeological and historic sites. In an effort to rehabilitate damage from off-highway vehicles, access to about 20 percent of the monument has been temporarily closed to motorized use. Public lands within this field office are near developed and expanding communities and are heavily used. The lands are managed for multiple use and provide diverse recreational opportunities, mining, wildlife habitat, grazing, and wilderness, all overlaying a rich cultural past. The field office oversees six wilderness areas, four Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail and one property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.</p>

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground

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