Photo by Mare Czinar

Eagletail Mountain Wilderness

Located in the rugged beauty of the Eagletail Wilderness area west of Tonopah, this route meanders through fields of wildflowers, jagged cliffs and trickling washes before culminating at an amazing “art gallery” of ancient petroglyphs.

This is one of Arizona’s richest rock art sites. Exploratory side trips lead to a running spring and a collection of age-old metates (grinding basins made of stones) scoured out of the volcanic pediment near a creek.

Although the hiking is rated as easy, you’ll need some minor creek-crossing and moderate route-finding skills along the faint path. High-clearance vehicles are required for the last 1.5 miles of the drive to the trailhead.

INFORMATION

Length: 7 miles roundtrip
Rating: easy
Elevation: 150 feet
Getting there: From Tonopah, go 13 miles on Interstate 10 West to Harquahala Valley Road (exit 81). Turn south and continue on Harquahala Valley Road for 5 miles to Courthouse Rock Road. Turn right (west) and continue 5 miles to a major fork. Take the right fork onto a gas pipeline road and go 6 miles to a road on the left. Turn here and head south for 1.5 miles to the Ben Avery trailhead.
Information: Bureau of Land Management’s Yuma field office, 928-726-6300;
publiclands.org/explore/site.php?id=501