Petroglyph Canyon Trail to Mouse's Tank (1/2 mile round trip) - Many fine examples of prehistoric Indian rock art (Petroglyphs) were within easy view of the trail. Trail markers identified several common desert plants and other natural features in the canyon.

Petroglyph Canyon at Valley of Fire State Park is probably the most accessible way for visitors to view petroglyphs. The walk was short and very easy in the sandy bottom of this narrow canyon. Everyone must resist the temptation to touch the petroglyphs because they are easily damaged and cannot be repaired or replaced. Absolutely no one alive today knows for certain what these ancient markings mean, but there was an informational sign at the trail entrance which explained some of the most commonly accepted interpretations. As Lee and Karen Duquette walked through this canyon, it was easy for them to imagine that they were transported back in time. The grandeur and solitude (if you are as lucky as the two RV Gypsies were on this date) of these brilliant red sandstone cliffs was almost overwhelming. In the summertime, the heat in this canyon is stifling and intense and therefore best viewed early in the morning or just before sunset; daily summer highs usually exceed 100 degrees, and 120 degrees is considered common. Karen Duquette recommends that everyone carries water year-round when visiting this area, or any remote area.





Below: Can you see the ELEPHANT and the scary faces in the photos below?


The petroglyphs in the two photos below are fairly easy to spot because they were always in a dark spot of the rock.






Below: Lee and Karen Duquette reached the end of the trail - Mouse's Tank, which was named for a renegade Southern Paiute Indian who gave other Indians and settlers in this region great trouble during the 1890's. One of his favorite hideouts was this wild and (then) inaccessible canyon. The "tank" is a stream worn basin hidden among the rocks which traps and hold precious water during long dry periods. There is a small route up the left side of the hill and some people climb up there to get a better view of it, but the two RV Gypsies did not.


Below: Now Lee and Karen Duquette hurried out of this trail and back to the car because it looked like it was going to rain. On their way back to the car, they saw several people just entering the trail, despite the weather. The two RV Gypsies got in their toad and continued driving through the park, and were soon caught in a flash flood. They wondered if the people on the trail were okay.