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    Painted Rock Petroglyph Site

    3.9 (14 reviews)

    Painted Rock Petroglyph Site Photos

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    Painted Rock Petroglyph Site; Hohokam people; 7500 BCE-AD 1450
    Paul L.

    If you would like to toast marshmallows and view petroglyphs, you can do it here at Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. Located about 12 miles west of Gila Bend, on a dirt road north of Interstate 8's exit 102, a convenient campground hugs the compact mound of petroglyph site. You won't have to build up a strenuous sweat -- let the 120-degree summer heat do that for you -- because a short path takes you up and over the mound of petroglyphs that appear in full view. The Hohokam people inhabited this area from 7500 BCE to AD 1450 and you will see their images carved into the stone all around you.

    Oren P.

    I was not nearly as impressed with this place or the petroglyphs as some of the other reviewers. It's basically just a small hill of boulders with some "painted rocks" and a short trail around them. It's not really worth going out of your way to visit but if you have some extra time or special interest, it's only 11 miles off the interstate and won't take you very long to see all that's here. There is a day area and a campground; both ask for payment for use.

    Rachel W.

    First of all, if you put the directions in Google maps, it will tell you to cross the Gila River which you do not need to. It's actually NOT on S Rocky Point Rd, but just on Rocky Point Rd. Just put it in google maps as Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and it will take you to the right place. This place is in the middle of nowhere. We came here last week on a whim as we were traveling out of PHX back to CA and wanted to take a detour. We found this randomly and thought it looked cool. Upon arrival there are signs that tell you where the campgrounds are and we pulled up to find NO ONE there. We had the entire campground to ourselves. It was really nice. The grounds are very flat and there is really no shade anywhere. Definitely don't go during the summer months, like we did, because the 5am sunrise will wake you up and it will be scorching soon after. We arrived late in the evening and left early morning so didn't have too much of a problem although it was still quite hot during the night. In the morning when we woke up we explored the petroglyph site which we walked right over to from our campsite. The site is seriously AMAZING. It was so eerie to see all of the etchings from the Hohokam people as well as the late pioneers who passed through this area. It was really interesting to see all the different carvings and somewhat experience what life would have been like for people in this area (when the river was not diverted). Overall, my friend and I both agreed that this kind of out of the way detour was totally worth it for us. This was not something you see or experience everyday, and if you're interested in history and nature it's the perfect combo.

    Desert iguana I photographed there
    Kirk M.

    Camped in a tent here for five days while hunting snakes, and desert reptiles. Amazing petroglyphs on huge boulder piles. Even pieces of Native American pottery here and there. I photographed and caught a Chuckwalla by hand.. then released it unharmed..

    How to get there map from Captain Obvious.

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    3 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Cool lil stop while on our way to Yuma, AZ. Nice stop area for a picnic as there are tables to use.

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    Quartzsite Town Park - View from shaded picnic table toward the southwest beyond the ballfield.

    Quartzsite Town Park

    5.0(2 reviews)
    79.9 mi

    Put aside the mental image of city parks in St. Louis, Glendale AZ or Henderson Nevada. This Gem…read moreis different! You will need to have a different set of criteria in mind before making judgement or reviewing! This is afterall a desert community. It's a desert community without lakes rivers or water filled rushing streams. Beauty in the Desert has been ignored by many through the ages. We disputed Quartzite for the day. We enjoyed local restaurants, businesses geared toward freeway tourists and historical sites. With an 8 year old in tow we wanted some active playtime before loading up to head home. He had a blast! This park is clean, visitors clearly value this and are able to see garbage cans and use them! Hip hip Hooray a win for us all! Two shade covered play structures were a hit! Badminton net was in good shape, there seemed to be bourse shoe set up, a ball field with a stage in the outfield promised good fun! A dog park has its own Yelp Page. Skateboard basics , Basketball and More Restrooms located north of the dog park at first worried me... and perhaps there are hot summer days when they could be but the brick structure was not offensive! Cleanliness and full Toilet tissue, commodes which flushed adequately were much appreciated! Good ventilation and the fact that the interior of the ladies room was well lit. These facilities are well maintained!

    This is a large park for a small city. The park is located directly across from town hall and the…read moreQuartzsite library. It is a safe park with two courthouses and the police department on the same street. You won't find a homeless problem here and no graffiti issues. Some of the things the park has to offer is a radio controlled car track, horseshoe pits, skate park, playgrounds, disc golf course, and even a fitness trail. The community has several functions in the park every year including a Veterans Day memorial event by the two big airplanes at the park's entrance. The park is open from sun up to sun set and several people use the park daily. The town does a great job in keeping the park up.

    Photos
    Quartzsite Town Park - Disk golf inside the park

    Disk golf inside the park

    Quartzsite Town Park - City of Quartzsite

    City of Quartzsite

    Quartzsite Town Park - Skate park

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    Skate park

    Kofa National Wildlife Refuge - Inside one of the illegal mines..

    Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

    4.5(2 reviews)
    86.1 mi

    There is only one negative thing about this area, and let's get it out of the way at the top:…read more You need a high clearance vehicle to really experience this place. There are amazing places to camp, hike, and climb in here but make sure your vehicle has at least 7.5" of clearance (more is always better) or else you're definitely going to get some body-scraping going on. If you're renting a car to come out here, some sort of jeep (or a Tacoma) is probably going to be your best bet. You don't really need 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive, you just need to have your undercarriage up above the ground. Once you get in here though, there's some incredible stuff! I hiked/scrambled to the summits of (you can find my GPS files for your mapping software at the links below): Castle Dome Peak: https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=4071 Ten Ewe Mountain: https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=35522 Signal Peak: https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=4066 There's also some really great stargazing in here, and lots of spots to pull over and have a campout. This is one of the better places for boondocking in the US provided, again, that you have the clearance. And since this is a merely a National "Wildlife Refuge" rather than a National "Park", it's effectively free and not very crowded. I only saw one other person (and his dog) in the mountains.

    ~ Crystal Hill Review ~…read more To get to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge's Crystal Hill just look for the turn-off sign just past the 95 mile marker ( off the State Route 95). You will then have to drive 6 miles down a dirt and rocky road.. It's tough sledding (15 mph), but most cars can made it if they avoid the large rocks and go slow. I even saw a compact car make this. About halfway down the dirt road you'll see the official Kofa Park sign and Trailhead.. You'll then keep going for 2.5 miles until you're next to a small mountain / hill on your left. Hopefully there are RVs camping so you know you're at the right place. Just turn LEFT into the campground toward the bottom of the mountain/hill. There are several pullouts ( campsites) here, so park and walk towards the hill. There are a few trails up, all with white signs telling you that no digging tools are allowed on the hill. Walk up the trail and make your way to the top. Please feel free to go off trail as you please. The best finds are off the main trails so explore everywhere. Crystal Hill is very family friendly and you're going to find quartz ( mostly white) everywhere. The clear crystal points (very tough to find) can be found if you really look hard off-trail. Remember, limit of 10. TIPS - - 10 rock limit or 10 pounds.. whichever comes first.. - Most people collect then leave their spoils in a pile for others to find.. This helps out younger rockhounds find cool specimens. - The top is pure tailing, but the midway point on the North West side has some good locations for the cool stuff. - If you see small holes in the hillside those might be illegal mines. Small, but you or your kids can crawl in and take a look. Bring a flashlight.

    Photos
    Kofa National Wildlife Refuge - It glows under UV light.

    It glows under UV light.

    Kofa National Wildlife Refuge - The top

    The top

    Kofa National Wildlife Refuge - Cool stuff, but you need to have a keen eye.

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    Cool stuff, but you need to have a keen eye.

    Gateway Park - 2/28/25

    Gateway Park

    4.3(11 reviews)
    93.3 mi

    Even with the tide really low due to the lack of rain, this makes a great place to relax, picnic or…read morewhat have you. Seemingly all the times we've been here the other groups of people have been very mellow. I mean, yes they're into their own get - togethers but the hootin' and hollerin' you'd expect from other beaches? Not so much here. The lake current is nice and strong; you could float on your back down the river if you wanted too. I got a good workout in there just crawling around and things. Like I said, most of the river is not as deep as after a rainfall. Recommended!

    Beautiful park underneath the Ocean to Ocean Highway bridge, which crosses the Colorado River in…read moreYuma on the CA/AZ border. The park has bathrooms, picnic tables under a large pavilion, a play ground, and a sandy beach. There's even an outdoor shower for cleaning off the sand when you're done. On an August weekday around noon, there were multiple families at the park to lounge and swim. The bridge provides ample shade for sitting on the beach or swimming in the water. The water was clear and looked clean. Some kids had tied a rope swing to the bridge and were swing jumping into the water - so fun! Yuma is HOT and frankly quite ugly, without much to offer the passerby outside of food, fuel, and the prison (also worth a stop!!). Gateway Park is an exception - a beautiful spot and a great break point for the weary traveler. Bring swimsuits - you won't just want to dip your feet in!

    Photos
    Gateway Park
    Gateway Park - 92 degrees in May definitely bikini weather.

    92 degrees in May definitely bikini weather.

    Gateway Park - Behold the mighty Colorado river!

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    Behold the mighty Colorado river!

    Goodyear Recreational Campus

    Goodyear Recreational Campus

    4.3(24 reviews)
    47.1 mi

    I've been coming to the Goodyear Recreation Center for about a year now, and it has truly become a…read morelifestyle for me. What started as buying a simple day pass, just trying to get active again after a few years, turned into something that completely changed my routine and mindset. I have to give a special shoutout to Obie. She is honestly the reason I keep my membership active. Her classes truly challenge you, but in the best way. They push you, encourage you, and somehow make you appreciate yourself and all the hard work you've put in. Obie is genuinely such a huge motivation. Her well-being, her demeanor, the way she carries herself, and the way she teaches really inspire you to be better. She's a true inspiration. After my very first class with her, I walked straight to the front desk and signed up for a membership. Every class feels like you're transforming your life for the better. She reminds you that your best is truly enough, no matter what, and that mindset has stayed with me beyond the gym. And the community that comes with it is just as special. I'm naturally a little shy, but the ladies here have truly helped me come out of my shell. Now I find myself wishing everyone a good morning when I walk in, even if I don't know them. They're always the first to offer advice or helpful tips when you're trying a new class, and they're just so kind and encouraging. I'm so grateful I found this place. I absolutely love it.

    We are so fortunate to live near this park. It's new, clean, and has wonderful variety of things…read morefor kids and adulta of all ages to do. There's plenty of parking, and a lot of the playground areas are covered for the warmer weather. There are picnic tables to enjoy lunch while visiting and sinks with eynning water. This area can also be rented out for birthday parties. The design of the park is so nice. There's plenty of paved walkways that I push my younger grandson on around while my older grandson's playing on the playground equipment. This Recreation Center also has volleyball courts, fields for soccer and t-ball. There's also a Aquatic Center adjacent to the actual park. People also play Pickleball and Tennis here. The park is always immaculate. I've never seen one piece of trash and I've been there numerous times. There are multiple restrooms that are available and they are always clean. I've enjoyed this park so much and all of the kids that I've ever observed here are having the best time.

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    Goodyear Recreational Campus
    Goodyear Recreational Campus
    Goodyear Recreational Campus - This is the volleyball court

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    This is the volleyball court

    Painted Rock Petroglyph Site - parks - Updated June 2026

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