Anasazi Petroglyphs – St. George

Looking for a short and interesting hike here in sunny St. George? Check out the Anasazi Petroglyphs. There are plenty of hikes in St. George and surrounding areas that are way cool, but how many have petroglyphs, glimpses into the past natives that used to rule these lands? Not many. The Anasazi Petroglyphs are some of the most popular and best preserved here in St. George.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Weller on flickr

The hike is considered moderate due to some climbing and some rough patches on the trail, but it is easy enough to take the little ones with you. It is a 3.5 mile hike all the way in, but the petroglyphs become visible about 1.2 miles in. Make sure to bring water as it is a little bit of a trudge and St. George is very hot.

To access the trailhead you will drive west on Santa Clara Drive until you see the Junction sign and River Reserve sign, there you will turn in and follow the gravel road until you see the Anasazi Ride Trailhead sign, from there you can park and start hiking on the east side of the parking lot marked as Tempi’Po’Op or ‘Rock Writing’. The trail will travel up the slope of ‘Land Hill’, a geographic rock formation where the ancestral Puebloans and Souther Paiute used heavily.

As you continue the hike you will be able to capture panoramic views of the red rock surroundings, Snow Canyon State Park and Santa Clara. This really is a beautiful and interesting hike for the family to enjoy. Once to the petroglyphs, you will be able to see almost perfectly preserved rock writings that have been there for thousands of years, scientists are still trying to determine just how old some of these petroglyphs really are!

Make sure that you do not climb on the rocks with petroglyphs on them, deface any of the petroglyphs, or touch them. As said before, these are very old ancient writings that have been well preserved, and should remain that way.

Enjoy your hike, and take in the history of this beautiful land!