Painted Rock Road

Total Miles
10.9

Elevation

221.05 ft

Duration

1 Hours

Technical Rating

3

Easy

Best Time

Winter, Spring

Trail Overview

This trail provides a more scenic and challenging option to reach the Painted Rock Petroglyph site from Interstate 8 than just driving there on paved backroads. It cuts through an area of Arizona State Land, which requires an inexpensive annual Arizona State Land permit. Permits can be obtained online at https://azland.my.salesforce-sites.com/recreationalpermit/. The trail consists of packed dirt and sand single-lane or two-track paths over mostly level terrain. There are a couple of wash crossings, which can be a few feet deep with soft sand, and several rocky stretches with small to medium-sized lava rocks. Saguaro cacti are scattered throughout the area and can be close to the trail in a few spots. You will get a great view of the Painted Rock Mountains alongside the trail, but be cautious of hikers and horseback riders sharing this route at times. Pack out any trash and stay on established trails, both of which are regulations for the use of Arizona State Land.

Photos of Painted Rock Road

Painted Rock Road
Painted Rock Road

Difficulty

The trail is mostly level with the primary surface being packed dirt/sand occasionally strewn with small lava rocks. There are a few wash crossings that can have 2-3 foot drops, requiring moderate to high clearance. Several short stretches also cross over lava rock patches with rocks up to 12" in size.

Technical Rating

3

Status Reports

There are no status reports yet for this trail.

Access Description

Access to the south end of this trail is off the westbound side of I-8 at 32.882367, -113.098044, approximately 8.5 miles past the Citrus Valley Rd exit on I-8. There is a chain-link gate in the highway fencing border at this point, allowing access to the trail on Arizona State Land (permit required). The north end of this trail can be accessed from the south end of the parking lot area at the Painted Rock Petroglyph site.

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