nazSTUFF - Intuitive Hiker, Keyhole Sink Rock Art

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Visiting Keyhole Sink Rock Art Site

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Interpretive Sign at Keyhole Sink

An ancient lava flow deposited the rocks of this box canyon. Over time, water carved through the rock creating the keyhole-shaped canyon that you see today. The pool of water at the cliff bottom supports a variety of plants and attracts wildlife.

About one thousand years ago prehistoric Indians left their mark on these basalt stone walls. Petroglyphs (pecked drawings) found here today suggest that hunting was important. One dramatic drawing shows a deer herd entering the canyon. Can you imagine the hunting scene that once played out within these walls hundreds of years ago?

Here's a quick and easy guide to finding and visiting this historic place.

Driving I-40 west from Flagstaff, Arizona, watch for this turnoff.

Drive past the Parks General Store and turn left onto Historic Route 66.

Shortly, you will see this sign, indicating an upcoming place to park on the left.

The trailhead gate will be obvious to you on the north side of the road.

A well developed forest trail meanders for one mile to the site.

You're at the canyon when you see this fence and interpretive sign. The fence is there today to keep cattle out. You can sign the guestbook. Please keep this gate closed. There is a theory that the prehistoric Indians planted these aspen trees here as it is not their natural habitat.

If you visit in mid summer, this is your first panoramic view of the Keyhole Sink box canyon. It is paradise, and a microclimate. This south facing shelter provides habitat for specific plants and attracts all sorts of wildife.

This juvenile gopher snake is an example. On the day we last visited, five of these newborn snakes were swimming in the pond below the waterfall.

It's a glorious site to witness the waterfall when it is running.

Here's a photo of just one of the rock art panels found in this canyon. It was clearly an important place for these ancient people.

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THEN, ON AUGUST 25, 2010... this was recorded.

vandal

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING WHO MAY HAVE DONE THIS, PLEASE CONTACT THE ARCHEOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF YOUR NATIONAL FOREST.

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