Little Black Mountain Petroglyph Site

Little Black Mountain Petroglyph Site preserves one of the most significant concentrations of ancient rock art in the American Southwest, located on BLM land just north of St. George, Utah. The site contains over 500 individual petroglyph panels carved into dark basalt boulders, representing thousands of years of cultural expression by the ancestral Puebloan, Southern Paiute, and other indigenous peoples who inhabited the Southern Utah region.

The Petroglyphs

The rock art at Little Black Mountain spans an estimated time period from roughly 1000 BCE to historic contact, making it a remarkably long-lived site of cultural significance. Images include hunting scenes, animal figures featuring bighorn sheep and lizards, geometric patterns, celestial symbols, and human forms that provide invaluable insights into the spiritual and daily life of the region's earliest inhabitants. The density and variety of images make this site one of the most important petroglyph concentrations in Utah.

Location and Access

Little Black Mountain Petroglyph Site is located approximately 10 miles north of downtown St. George on BLM-managed public land. Access is via a dirt road that requires a high-clearance vehicle in some sections. The site sits atop a volcanic mesa with commanding views of the surrounding landscape, adding scenic reward to the cultural experience. From St. George, the drive takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes depending on road conditions.

Visiting Guidelines

The petroglyphs at Little Black Mountain are protected cultural resources under federal law. Visitors must not touch, chalk, or disturb the rock art in any way. Photography is encouraged, and the best images are captured in early morning or late afternoon when low-angle sunlight illuminates the carved surfaces against the dark basalt. The site is free to visit and open year-round, though summer heat can make midday visits uncomfortable. Spring and fall provide the most pleasant exploring conditions.

Cultural Significance

Little Black Mountain represents an irreplaceable record of human presence in Southern Utah dating back thousands of years. The site continues to hold cultural and spiritual significance for modern tribal communities, and visitors are encouraged to approach the petroglyphs with the respect due to a living cultural heritage site.