Overview

The Petroglyph Wall Trail is a short walk from the Willow Springs Picnic Area to an archeological site at the base of the cliffs just across Red Rock Wash. The trail is too short (0.15 miles) to call it a hike, but it is an interesting place to visit. For people driving the Scenic Loop Road, this makes a nice place to stop, stretch your legs, and spend a few minutes walking in the desert. There is much more rock art hanging on the walls of Red Rock Canyon, but you'll have to search for it. While looking about, notice that the cliffs on both sides of the canyon are in designated wilderness area: the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area behind the petroglyphs, and the La Madre Mountain Wilderness Area on the other side of the canyon.

This site includes petroglyphs (artwork pecked into the rock) and pictographs (paintings). Collectively, some Native People prefer to use the phrase "rock stories" because these symbols are a form of writing rather than just artwork.

Link to map. Link to BLM Georeference PDF map file.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this is a pretty safe hike, but it is not what one would call an accessible trail. Please respect the Native American sites and don't deface them; they are part of the history of this land, and when they are gone, they are gone forever.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this is a short hike, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located along the Scenic Loop Road in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 45 minutes west of Las Vegas. Drive out to Red Rocks, pay the fee, and then drive about half-way around the Scenic Loop Road to Willow Springs Road. Turn right and drive north 0.6 miles to the end of the pavement at the Willow Springs Trailhead. Park here; this is the trailhead.

The Hike

Just past the end of the pavement, but before the dirt turn-around loop, a sign on the left (west) side of the dirt parking area marks the start of the trail. From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the trail runs northwest past several singleleaf pinyon pines towards Red Rock Wash, staying to the left of the pole fence that borders the dirt turn-around loop.

At the edge of the wash, the trail switchbacks to the southwest and drops into the wash. Across the wash, the trail bends back to the northwest and climbs out of the wash on a well-defined trail. A few yards farther, the trail ends at a pole fence (Wpt. 02) that blocks access to the base of the cliff. The rock stories are on the rock wall behind the fence.

A sign provides information about the petroglyphs (to the right on the open rock face) and the pictographs (to the left under the overhang).

When ready, follow your footprints back to the trailhead.