The Kokopelli Petroglyphs at Canyon Pintado National Historical District
south of Rangely, Colorado is a roadside walk that
leads to ancient Fremont petroglyphs and pictographs which includes the famous flute-playing Kokopelli.
Walk
This is not a hike but rather a very short roadside walk that leads to a viewing point of the Kokopelli petroglyphs and pictographs along the west side of CO-139. From the parking / trailhead coordinates, visitors will cross CO-139 to the west side where you'll find a ~10-foot long path that leads to the viewing platform just below the Kokopelli pictographs. Here, you can read more about the ancient artwork via the interpretive signs. Kokopelli can be found throughout the southwest US in different forms, but generally is depicted playing a flute.
Universal Access
You can enjoy the pictographs and petroglyphs from the parking area or from the road, hence this roadside stop is universally-accessible.
Parking
Hikers will find a large parking lot at the
coordinates provided, located on the east side of CO-139. The lot is
large enough to fit over a dozen vehicles.
Pets
Dogs are allowed only if leashed and must be cleaned up after.
Warning
Ancient petroglyphs: This trail leads beyond the recorded route provided to
ancient petroglyphs and pictographs that were created hundreds of years
ago. Please do not touch or attempt to disturb in any way. Only take
photos and appreciate the ancient artwork from behind the barriers.
Sun exposure:
This trail has very little shade and no water sources. Pack-in all
water and wear sun screen and a hat to protect against sun exposure.
It's smart to hike either in the early morning or late afternoon to
avoid the intense sun.
No water: This trail has no
water sources so you must pack-in all water. A general rule of thumb in
the desert is 1 gallon of water per person per day.
Rattlesnakes: This trail leads through rattlesnake territory, so be on the lookout and give any rattlers you find plenty of space.
MyHikes is an indie web platform aimed to make exploring public trails easier for everyone. The site has no investors and is owned and operated by one person, Dave Miller (Founder & Admin). As the Founder, main contributor, and doer-of-all-things for MyHikes, I share my trips with over-detailed write-ups for fun on a volunteer basis and I believe that public trail information should be available to everyone.
It takes a lot of time 🕦, money 💰, and effort (including espresso shots ☕) to run MyHikes, including hiking , mapping , writing , and publishing new trails with high-quality content... along with building new features, moderating, site maintainance, and app development for iOS and Android . I simply ask that if you find MyHikes' trail guides helpful to please consider becoming a Supporter to help keep the site, iOS, and Android apps available to everyone.
Supporters unlock website and in-app perks with a one-time payment of $25 (you renew) 😎👍. Or you can simply make a Donation of your choice without a MyHikes user account. Otherwise, telling your friends about MyHikes is the next-best thing - both quick and free 🎉
Thanks for visiting MyHikes and have a great hike!️