Petroglyphs & Rock Art for RV Travelers

A Nez Perce National Historical Park rock-art site on the Snake River straddling Idaho and Washington, with hundreds of petroglyphs and pictographs made by ancestors of the nimíipuu. Federal law protects the images — disturbing them is a felony.

A Washington State Parks site on the Columbia River with sacred Native American rock art, including Tsagaglalal ('She Who Watches'). The most sensitive images are reached on reserved guided tours only; the Temani Pesh-wa panels are self-guided in season.

A Coconino National Forest petroglyph site near Sedona, Arizona — the Verde Valley's largest known panel, in the Sinagua Beaver Creek Style. Fenced and open only during posted hours (Friday–Monday), with a $5 day-use fee or Red Rock / America the Beautiful pass. Guided tours are offered by volunteer partners; never touch the rock art.

A BLM-managed archaeological site on U.S. 50 in Nevada where petroglyphs are pecked into desert-varnished basalt boulders. A 1/4-mile self-guided interpretive trail leads past the rock art; nearby Hidden Cave is reachable only on a scheduled BLM tour.

A BLM recreation area on U.S. 50 in central Nevada, 24 miles east of Austin, with ancient petroglyphs, an interpretive setting, hiking, and camping (14-day limit). The cultural resources are protected by federal law against any damage or defacement.

A sacred Native American rock-carving site on a quartzite ridge in southern Minnesota, managed by the Minnesota Historical Society. The carvings are fragile and irreplaceable — visitors view them on guided, on-trail terms and never touch the rock.

A BLM-managed, day-use rock-art site near Santa Fe, New Mexico, with hundreds of petroglyphs along a 1-mile loop trail. Most were made by Keresan-speaking Puebloan people between the 13th and 17th centuries, with descendants at Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos. The BLM asks visitors not to climb on, touch, chalk, wet down, or make rubbings of the petroglyphs. Admission is free; confirm current access on the official BLM page.

A 267-acre detached unit of Lava Beds National Monument in California, where more than 5,000 carvings cover a volcanic tuff cliff above Tule Lake. The site is central to a Modoc creation story; a protective fence has guarded it since the 1930s. Managed by the NPS.

A free, year-round BLM day-use petroglyph site on Indian Creek in southeastern Utah, reached by a short gravel path. Paved parking with pull-through RV spaces, an interpretive kiosk, and toilets — but no water. The panel carries imagery from Basketmaker, Ancestral Puebloan, and Ute peoples; look, photograph, and never touch.

A 46-mile BLM rock-art corridor in east-central Utah, called 'the world's longest art gallery,' with identified panels, trailheads, and facilities at Cottonwood Glen and Daddy Canyon. Approached from Wellington, south of Price; no fee. View and photograph the petroglyphs only — never touch.

A Coconino National Forest cliff-dwelling and rock-art site near Sedona, Arizona ('Palatki' means 'Red House' in Hopi). Visits require an advance reservation through Recreation.gov, with tours capped at 14 and a guided route of about an hour and 15 minutes. A Red Rock or America the Beautiful pass is required; read the heritage-etiquette guide and never touch the art.

A BLM petroglyph site west of Parowan, Utah, on the National Register of Historic Places, with a gravel parking lot, accessible vault toilet, shade structure, interpretive signage, and concrete pathways. The BLM notes the highest concentration of petroglyphs in southwest Utah along the western path. View and photograph only — never touch.

An NPS-managed monument on the edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico, protecting one of North America's largest concentrations of petroglyphs across canyons such as Boca Negra, Rinconada, and Piedras Marcadas. The images were carved roughly 400 to 700 years ago and carry profound spiritual significance for living Native American and Spanish-descendant communities. Stay on trails, never touch or deface the rock art, and check the official NPS site for current hours and conditions.

A USFS-managed canyon in the Comanche National Grassland of southeastern Colorado, named for the rock art on its walls. The grassland covers about 443,784 acres across Baca, Las Animas, and Otero counties, and the Arch Rock Trail (#1881) runs through Picture Canyon. Because the rock art is fragile, irreplaceable cultural heritage, view it from the trail and never touch it. Carry water and confirm current access on the official USFS page before you go.

A Wisconsin State Parks (DNR) site with Native American petroglyphs and pictographs at the base of a 300-ft mound, attributed to ancestors of the Ho-Chunk. Interpretive panels guide viewing; the art is fragile and is meant to be seen, never touched.

A BLM interpretive rock-art site north of Thompson Springs, Utah, reached off I-70 Exit 187 via State Highway 94. Panels are visible from the road in three documented styles — Fremont, Ute, and Barrier-style — with a nearby ghost town. The BLM suggests planning at least a half day; view and photograph only, never touch the art.

A BLM National Conservation Area of 48,438 acres south of Las Vegas, Nevada, whose Petroglyph Canyon holds more than 300 rock-art panels with roughly 1,700 design elements spanning the Archaic to historic periods. Reached on foot via the Petroglyph Canyon Trail.

A BLM-managed rock-art site near Tularosa, New Mexico, with over 21,000 Jornada Mogollon petroglyphs across about 50 acres. A self-guided walking trail lets visitors view the images up close. The site has a small campground with RV hookups, restrooms, and drinking water. Always treat the petroglyphs as the irreplaceable cultural heritage they are: look, photograph, and leave them untouched. Confirm current hours and fees on the official BLM page before you travel.

A Nevada state park of red Aztec sandstone northeast of Las Vegas, with petroglyphs over 2,000 years old at sites like Atlatl Rock and Mouse's Tank. The carvings are attributed to the Basketmaker and early Pueblo cultures and are protected by state and federal law.