painted rock petroglyph site

11 miles off the hwy, good paved road. Site is next to BLM campground (sparsley populated even in high season), restrooms available. Covered picnic area. $2 day use fee.

I was staying in Yuma for a few days and saw mention of this site in a guide to Arizona that I had picked up for some friends. I drove all the way out, not at all sure what I would find. The 11 mile road off the freeway is very good. Once you get to the site there is, as others have mentioned, an RV site and a set of toilets (very handy after the drive!). There's picnic benches and some shelter - but no water. The explanatory signage is getting a bit faded, not surprising under the relentless sun. Most of the petroglyphs are around the large mound/small Hill beside the signage. There's a circular walk around this hill. With no mention of which direction to walk in I went anti-clockwise (viewed from above) and by the time I was half way around wondered why I'd driven all this way. Then suddenly caught sight of a well defined picture. A few steps further on there were dozens. Every rock was inscribed, including those I could see at the very top. It took my breath away to be in such a natural and almost unspoilt site. Yes, I'd go again - and I want to read more about how and why these were drawn.

It is completely worth the 11 mile drive from the interstate!! There are literally hundreds of petroglyphs that are within 50 yards of the parking lot. Easy walking path for old and young. Really fascinating place and we have been to MANY petroglyphs sites but this was the best!We even saw a Gila monster which was an added treat!

have a couples hours to kill, walk around a little bit & get some great Arizona sun. Interesting reads & pics. Easy quarter mile walk around, good history & education. Staff friendly, clean, safe atmosphere. Take water...

We drove from Chandler to take a look at the Painted Rock Petroglyph site, and were rewarded with some really nice rock art. Lots of mysterious symbols, and of course a small amount of the obligatory graffiti added much later by people too stupid to appreciate what they're seeing. We didn't stay at the campground, but it looked good. There's a very similar site in Saguaro Park, located on a rise of boulders like at Painted Rock. If you're coming from the east you may want to stop in Gila Bend for snacks and water, and check your gas gauge.

If you love petroglyphs, this is a destination for you. There are panels explaining the history of the area, and the petroglyphs are visible within close distance to the parking area. Loved it!

I had seen these petroglyphs many years ago - saw the exit on Highway 8 and wondered what the heck they were:) Used to be a dirt road - now it's paved all the way to the park. Very nice camping and picnic improvements! Only $2 a day - honor system. Signage is good - and information is very helpful about the history and the area. Most of the work is on the SE corner of the rock rise - and you can see the historic graffiti from other passerby's over the decades.If you're not in a hurry heading East or West (which most people are in this area) and you like primitive indigenous works - then this is an easy one to visit.

We first found this site by accident during a trip out west a few years ago. We just returned today 07-24-14 in the evening. No one was at the park when we arrived and it was over 100 degrees. However we enjoyed our visit and I recommend this for a destination. There is no water so bring lots! There are no stores within 15 or more miles. There is a Love's truck stop to the East on I-8 but we used the shell at the Gila Bend exit on I-8. The shell has an rv campground, propane, water and nice bathrooms.The park was clean and well maintained. However the signs along the trail were sun damaged. There is a nice campground but no water or electric. I noted two handicapped sites and one improved site with rocks around the fire ring and a horseshoe pit. The bathrooms are outhouse type and there is only one in the campground and one by the actual site. The site has history with the Spanish explorers, the early mormans, old stage coach lines, and of course the Indians. I may visit again, but hopefully in a cooler time of the year!

We went out to the petroglyph site on a (typically) hot day, and enjoyed our visit very much. There were few others there, and they left soon after we arrived. We enjoyed the wide open spaces, and the odd pile of rocks where the petroglyphs are found. I was disappointed at some of the vandalism, but on the whole really enjoyed this isolated spot with its interpretive signs and palpable sense of others being there over thousands of years.This is an isolated spot. Make sure to carry water with you, and to wear a hat to protect yourself from the sun. We saw 'beware of rattlesnakes' signs, but no snakes. If you stay on the paths, as advised, you should have no problems. Want to hike in the rocks? You're on your own...

It's about an eight mile drive North from I-8 to this site, yet there was no sign at the beginning of this drive saying that they do not allow animals. Not even a place to walk them, even if I can't take them on the trails to the petroglyphs. Don't bother if you've got animals traveling with you.

I have visited other petroglyph sites in the United States and these were the most vivid and well preserved on the ones I have visited. It was very easy to see the different symbols of the drawings. It is a very easy walk around the site for all ages.

We stayed here only two nights as we had other plans, but this is a nice campground. Clean washrooms, garbage, and nice sized sites. Lots of petroglyphs and rocks which appear to have been used as mortar and pestle. This was also the route for the Butterfield trail. Nice hiking / walking areas. $8 per night. I think day use is $2.

I've seen petroglyphs several places in the southwest, but never this many, and never in such good condition. These almost seem to have been dumped in a pile, waiting to be discovered. (I doubt that's the case.)There are signs saying "stay on the path," but if you look closely, you'll see that the path winds among the rocks and it's quite easy to get up close to them without touching them in any way, or god forbid, climbing on the rocks. Please, future travelers, be very careful with these precious artifacts. You can take photos to your heart's content. A wonderful spot, with camping available, and scenic views in all directions. Must be hellishly hot in the summer though.

The road off the interstate is easy access (don't need a 4-wheel drive for this site). Signs at the bottom of the exit ramp and at the entrance to the site make it easy to find. The petroglyph's are contained in a smaller area, with the path around them extremely easy. The 'glyphs themselves are fantastic and very well preserved. This location is definetly worth the stop! There is a small picnic area so pack a lunch, or at the very least make sure you have water with you! (There are no stores anywhere in this area). There is also a dry campground located onsite which we plan to use next time if only because we want to take our time to look at all the 'glyphs. Bring bino's to catch the top rocks! We were also lucky enough to see a chuckwalla lizard running between rocks! For someone just wanting to zip through this site...count on 1/2 hr. If you want to take your time and try to figure out the designs, count on a VERY minimum of 6 hours. The 2.00 requested donation is more than worth this site.

Driving to Tucson along Interstate 8 at Milepost 102 we zoomed past the off ramp. Couple of days later on our way back we decided to stop. 11 miles north on a nice curvy paved road leads to a pretty valley, a campground and a pile of rocks. The BLM would like a $2 donation to park. Flat, easy gravel/dirt trail goes around a pile of lava rocks where the petroglyphs are. If you have been to Albuquerque and Petroglyph National Monument, this is a smaller version, but just as nice. Drive off the freeway took longer than walking around the site. Worth the time to visit. Summertime will be hot, no shade.