Anasazi Valley Petroglyphs
Historic sites
A 1.2-mile trail up Land Hill near Santa Clara to hundreds of petroglyphs and the remains of an Ancestral Puebloan farmstead, with views to Snow Canyon and the Red Mountains.
Tempi'po'op — "rock writing"
The trail's Southern Paiute name, Tempi'po'op, means rock writing, and that is what brings people here. The route climbs Land Hill, a formation above the Santa Clara River used heavily by both Ancestral Puebloans and Southern Paiute, and the petroglyph panels along it are among the most accessible in Washington County.
The walk
From the Anasazi Valley trailhead it is about 1.2 miles uphill to the main concentration of petroglyphs and to the interpreted remains of an Ancestral Puebloan farmstead. The grade is moderate and the surface is desert trail rather than slickrock.
From the top of Land Hill the view takes in the Red Mountains, Snow Canyon State Park, the Santa Clara River below and the Beaver Dam Mountains in the distance.
Getting there
From I-15 exit 6, head north on Bluff Street (Highway 18) about three miles, turn left onto Sunset Boulevard and continue west roughly seven miles. The trailhead is on the left.
Please don't touch
The panels are irreplaceable and the oils on skin damage them. Photograph them, stay off the rock art, and leave the farmstead's stonework where it lies. The site is on public land within the Santa Clara River Reserve and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Worth reading alongside this: the Anasazi Valley petroglyphs and historic sites in St. George.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Anasazi Valley trail?
About 1.2 miles each way from the trailhead to the main petroglyph area and the Ancestral Puebloan farmstead, with a moderate uphill grade.
Is there a fee?
No. The trail is on Bureau of Land Management land within the Santa Clara River Reserve and is free to visit.
Can I touch the petroglyphs?
No. Skin oils damage the rock surface. Stay off the panels and photograph them instead.