Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground
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.
More like this: reservable in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 62 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
62 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hohokam Loop | Pull-through | 100 | Gravel | 10 / 4 | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Hohokam Loop | Pull-through | 50 | Gravel | 5 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Hohokam Loop | Pull-through | 90 | Gravel | 7 / 3 | Yes | |
| 4 | Hohokam Loop | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 5 | Hohokam Loop | Pull-through | 85 | Gravel | 7 / 3 | Yes | |
| 6 | Hohokam Loop | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 7 | Hohokam Loop | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 2 / 1 | Yes | |
| 8 | Hohokam Loop | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 2 / 1 | Yes | |
| 9 | Hohokam Loop | Pull-through | 75 | Gravel | 7 / 3 | Yes | |
| 10 | Hohokam Loop | Pull-through | 80 | Gravel | 7 / 3 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | 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. |
| Stay limit | Day use or 14 days at campground |
| Accessibility | Sites 1, 2, 36 are listed accessible |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Exit Interstate 8 at Painted Rock Dam Road/Exit 102, about 12.5 miles west of Gila Bend. Travel north on Painted Rocks Dam Road 10.7 miles to Rocky Point Road. Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site is 0.6 miles west of Painted Rock Dam Road on Rocky Point Road.
| Nearest town | Gila Bend, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 33.0244° N, 113.0454° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Blue Compass RV ↗ | 53.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Painted Rock Petroglyph. $4 Campground
Public land it sits in
Woolsey Peak Wilderness begins about 5.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 5.4 miWoolsey Peak Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 64,000 acres
- 9.7 miSignal Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 13,350 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Painted RocksSite · Theba · 0.2 mi
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.
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.
Nearby
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).
Guidebooks for Arizona
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New MexicoMike White and Douglas Lorain, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
Sites at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
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.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground have?
64 sites, including 62 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
How long can I stay at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
Day use or 14 days at campground
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
Sites 1, 2, and 36 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
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 Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground?
Gila Bend, Arizona. 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.
Source: Getting there