Rock Art Canyon Ranch - Winslow, AZ - a canyon with ancient drawings on the wall

Those that wish to view ancient drawings and authentic Indian artifacts can do so by taking a trip to the Rock Art Canyon Ranch. It is a little known site of ancient petroglyphs which are also known as rock art or cave paintings found near Winslow, Arizona on a working cattle ranch.

Located between Winslow and Holbrook, Arizona in a remote area near Joseph City the Rock Art Canyon Ranch is off of Interstate 40. It was part of the Hashknife Gang Spread originally and there is one bunkhouse still there from the original ranch. The original ranch was two million acres.

The ranch is now privately owned by Brantley Baird and like taking a trip back in time with the land being preserved as close to the original state as possible. You can view hundreds of artifacts that have been found on the property at the cowboy, pioneer and Anasazi museum. The Chevelon Creek canyon is wooded and has a stream that runs through it with Anasazi petroglyphs found on the walls.

The current owner of the Rock Art Canyon Ranch has built stairs to take you into the canyon and an observation station can be found on the rim of the canyon. Visitors to the ranch can stop to rest or enjoy a picnic at the observation station. Arrangements should be made ahead of time as reservations are required to stay at the ranch. Tours of the ranch can be taken all year with the exception of Sunday with the cost being $40 for adults, $10 for those ten and under and no costs for children age three and below. Dinner and entertainment are included in the tours there is even a chuck wagon on the ranch.

The drawings that line the walls of the canyon are believed to be at least four thousand years old. There are geometric designs, unknown animal species and human forms can be seen all over the canyon. It is possible to drive to the rim of the canyon then take hike to the bottom to see the drawings. The museum found at Rock Art Canyon Ranch is full of Indian artifacts that were either bought from Indian tribes and ranches or found on the ranch itself.

Rock Art Canyon Ranch has buildings that were once part of an Indian campsite. The remaining buildings include a stone corral, sweat lodge and other buildings made of stone and mud which were claimed by the Hopi and Apache Indians at one time. Buffalo can even be seen wandering around the ranch.

Rock Art Canyon Ranch is a place that you have to visit if you in the Winslow, Arizona area if for no other reason than the rock art that is found in the canyon there. Rock art is getting harder to find because people's actions, nature and time have taken a toll on it causing it to start disappearing. Additional information about tours and the facility itself can be gotten by contacting the Rock Art Canyon Ranch directly.