TUCSON PETROGLYPHS
FIND PETROGLYPHS & PICTOGRAPHS
IN THE TUCSON MOUNTAINS
There are 21 known petroglyph locations in the Tucson Mountains left by the ancient Hohokams as early as AD 850. Not all are accessible to the public.
Below are details for visiting three of the most accessible sites.
SIGNAL HILL
Signal Hill petroglyphs site is located in the Saguaro National Park West. There are dozens of images viewable from a short trail and viewing area. Look at the images up to the left as you start to climb the trail, they are commonly missed.
A large spiral image, a favorite among photographers, is at the viewing area on top of the hill. The panoramic view of Wasson Peak and Sombrero Peak over an incredibly dense Saguaro forest is incredible.
Directions from the park’s Red Hills Visitor Center: Turn right onto Kinney Rd. Go 1.8 miles onto N. Sandario Rd. Go .3 miles and turn right onto Golden Gate Rd. Go 1.5 miles and turn left onto Signal Hill Rd. The Signal Hill Trailhead is at the picnic area. The hike to the petroglyphs is only .4 mile roundtrip.
Climbing on the rocks is not permitted. Please stay on the trail and viewing area. Please note . . . Golden Gate Road is closed at sunset.
SIGNAL HILL PETROGLYPHS SITE
Signal Hill Rd
Tucson, AZ 85743
Saguaro National Park West
520-733-5158
www.nps.gov/sagu/learn/historyculture/upload/Signal-Hill-Petroglyph-Brief.pdf
https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/maps.htm
A short easy hike to view Tucson Petroglyphs.
REDEMPTORIST RENEWAL CENTER
Redemptorist Renewal Center site is located on private property owned by the Redemptorist Renewal Center. It is estimated there are between 800 and 1,000 individual glyphs on the hill. Please check-in at the Center office or call 520-744-3400 before visiting.
Directions from Interstate-10: Take Ina Rd west 2.5 miles, then turn left (south) onto Wade Road. After about a half-mile, Wade Road curves to the right (west) and becomes Picture Rocks Road. The Redemptorist Renewal Center is on the left-hand side.
Follow the paved driveway past the retreat’s building complex, and park where the lower driveway turns north past the buildings. The Picture Rocks petroglyph site is on the small hill immediately west of the building complex. Most of the petroglyphs are on the west and east sides of the hill.
Climbing on rocks is not permitted. Please stay on the trail around the east and south sides of the hill. Proceed down the brick stairway into the wash below the hill, where you will find the best view of the glyphs along the hill’s west side.
REDEMPTORIST RENEWAL CENTER
7101 W Picture Rocks Rd
Tucson, AZ 85743
520-744-3400
A peaceful setting to view Tucson Petroglyphs.
KINGS CANYON TRAIL
Kings Canyon Trail site is located within the Saguaro National Park West. There are dozens of images, but the site is not marked and can be easily missed. An added benefit is that there is also an old stone building built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s near the site.
Directions from the Park’s Red Hills Visitor Center — The trailhead is 2 miles east from the Visitor Center directly across from the AZ-Sonoran Desert Museum.
Take the trail as it gradually climbs following an old mining road once used to access the Mile Wide Mine. The petroglyphs are .9 mile up the trail on either side of a wide wash just before a small damn and the Mam-AGah Picnic Area.
Please do not touch the petroglyphs. Even the oil from your hand can harm the image.
KINGS CANYON TRAIL SITE
Kinney Rd
Tucson, AZ 85743
Saguaro National Park West
520-733-5158
www.saguaronationalpark.com/rock-art.html
https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/maps.htm
Follow an old mining road to view Tucson Petroglyphs.
BLACK SHEEP PICTOGRAPH CAVE PAINTING
The Black Sheep Pictograph is the most elaborate prehistoric pictograph site known in the Tucson area. It is believed an ancient Hohokam artist left the drawings. The paintings are of horned animals that roamed the area and were most likely hunted by the Hohokams.
Finding the cave paintings is somewhat tricky. Take the Yetman Trail from the Camino de Oeste Trailhead about 1/2 mile past the Bowen Stone House. There is an unmarked trail leading to the west.
The trail is marked by cairns and “whispering saguaros”. Two saguaros that look like they are whispering to one another. Take the unmarked trail about 1/2 mile and keep your eyes on the rock ledges to your right as you climb. You will notice the cave tucked into the side of the hill across a rocky ravine. Be careful; the rocky ground can be tricky.
Please do not touch the pictographs. Even the oil from your hand can harm the images.
TUCSON MOUNTAIN PARK
Tucson Mountain Range
Camino De Oeste Trailhead
415 N Camino de Oeste
Tucson, AZ 85745
The trailhead is at the end of Camino De Oeste Road and provides access to the Yetman Trail. The Yetman trail will go directly to and past the Stone House and to an unmarked trail leading past the cave paintings.
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