Little Black Mountain Petroglyph Site and Petroglyphs Guide

Little Black Mountain is the closest major rock art site to St. George, a short drive past the south edge of town and just over the Arizona line. It is free, open every day of the year, and the walk is easy enough for kids. The catch is the dirt road in. This guide covers both BLM routes, what to look for on the boulders, how long the walk takes, when to go, and how to visit without harming carvings that have lasted thousands of years. We checked every detail against the Bureau of Land Management's own pages on October 8, 2026.

What is the Little Black Mountain petroglyph site?

The Little Black Mountain petroglyph site is a free BLM rock art site just across the Arizona line, about 14 miles southeast of St. George, Utah. More than 500 petroglyphs, made by several American Indian groups over roughly 8,000 years, are pecked into dark boulders along a short trail. Look and photograph, but never touch them.

According to the BLM, the carvings were made by members of several different American Indian groups over an 8,000-year period, and the site was used for religious and ceremonial purposes and for seasonal observations. Arizona Highways describes the setting as a 500-foot-high mesa sitting just 0.3 of a mile south of the Utah border. The petroglyphs were made by pecking and scraping through the dark coating of desert varnish on the boulders, which exposes the lighter rock underneath and makes the images stand out.

How do you get to the Little Black Mountain petroglyphs?

Start on the Southern Parkway in St. George. The BLM gives two dirt-road routes: from the River Road exit, drive 0.3 miles south into Arizona and turn left onto unimproved roads for about 4.5 miles, or from the Warner Valley exit (Exit 10), follow the frontage road and BLM road 1124 to the trailhead.

Route 1: River Road

1. From the Southern Parkway, take the River Road exit.
2. Go south on River Road 0.3 miles into Arizona.
3. Turn left and follow the unimproved dirt roads for about 4.5 miles to the site.

Route 2: Warner Valley (Exit 10)

1. Take the Southern Parkway to the Warner Valley exit, Exit 10.
2. Take two rights onto the frontage road and follow it for 4.2 miles.
3. Turn right and go 0.1 mile around the ranch.
4. Turn right onto BLM road 1124 and drive 2.3 miles to the site.

Road conditions

• Vehicle: the BLM says high-clearance vehicles are a must and four-wheel drive is recommended. A low sedan is not a good choice.
• Weather: stay off these roads when they are wet or rain is expected.
• Route change: the BLM warns that the primary access road has changed because of a gravel pit operating on state-leased land. Check the BLM site page for its current map before you go.
• Navigation: RoadTripRyan describes the area as a maze of 4x4 and ATV roads. Cell service is unreliable, so load an offline map first.
• Gates: older route descriptions mention a ranch gate on the way in. If you open one, close it behind you.

What will you see at Little Black Mountain?

You will see hundreds of images pecked and scratched into boulders at the foot of the mesa. The BLM lists spirals, circles, bisected circles, plants, baskets and constellations, and other guides describe bighorn sheep, snakes, lizards, turtles, bear paws and stick figures. Some carvings were placed so light and shadow mark the seasons.

The images sit on decorated boulders and ledges clustered along the base of the mountain, and there are panels on both sides of the site, so walk the whole trail rather than turning back at the first group. The BLM says the designs were placed to use the interplay of light and shadow to show seasonal changes, so the same panel can look different depending on the time of day and year you visit. The meaning of most images is not known, and archaeologists treat each one as part of a larger record that only stays readable if the boulders are left alone.

How long is the Little Black Mountain petroglyph trail?

The walk is short and easy. The BLM rates the gravel trail as suitable for beginner hikers, with a gentle slope of under 5 percent and interpretive signs along the way. RoadTripRyan puts the walk past both sides of the site at about 1.3 miles, so plan on an hour or a little more.

• Difficulty: easy; the BLM rates it for beginner hikers.
• Surface: a gravel walkway with a slope of less than 5 percent, plus a hard-packed parking area.
• Shade and water: there is no drinking water at the site, and the trail is in open desert. Carry more water than you think you need.
• Facilities: a vault toilet at the trailhead, a picnic table and a viewing platform.
• Safety: the BLM notes there is no first aid on site, so bring your own kit.

When is the best time to visit Little Black Mountain?

Fall, winter and spring are the most comfortable seasons. Desert summers here are hot, with temperatures regularly passing 100°F, and the walk has no shade, so in summer go early in the morning and be off the trail before midday. In any season, avoid the days after a rainstorm, when the dirt roads can be impassable.

For photos, low morning or late afternoon light rakes across the boulders and brings out the shallow carvings better than flat midday sun. Never wet, chalk or trace a petroglyph to make it show up in a picture; that damages it.

What are the rules for visiting the petroglyphs?

Look, photograph and leave everything as you found it. The BLM asks visitors not to touch the petroglyphs, because oils and acids from skin destroy them, and not to chalk, scratch or climb on the rocks. Stay on the trail, leave artifacts where they lie, and remember the site is day use only.

• Hands off: do not touch the petroglyphs. The BLM explains that oils and acids from the human body destroy them.
• No chalk, tracing or rubbings: do not chalk, scratch or mark the rock, and do not climb on the boulders.
• Stay on the trail: the BLM asks visitors to stay on the trail, which protects the slopes and anything lying on the ground.
• Leave artifacts: pottery sherds and stone flakes belong where they lie. Take photos, not pieces.
• Day use only: no overnight use. The BLM also bans exploding targets, fireworks, sky lanterns and tracer ammunition.
• It's the law: damaging, defacing or removing archaeological resources on federal land is a federal crime under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.
• Report vandalism: the BLM offers a reward of up to $500 for information on vandalism. Call 1-800-637-9152.

Nearby things to do

Little Black Mountain fits easily into half a day, so pair it with something back in town. The Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm shows fossil tracks on the east side of St. George, our St. George museums guide covers more local history, and the St. George hiking guide lists trails in Snow Canyon and the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. If you have a capable vehicle and want more dirt roads, see our ATV and off-road guide. For longer outings, browse day trips from St. George or the full list of things to do in St. George.