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Leader: Al Arpad Site Description: The petroglyphs in the South Mountains, along the southern margin of Phoenix, were the first elements of Hohokam rock imagery professionally reported, and they remain the most studied across southern Arizona. These glyphs now reside in South Mountain Park and Preserve, one of the largest municipal parks in the world. On this trip, visitors will visit Box and Pima Canyons, two of the best petroglyph localities in these mountains. The glyphs in Box Canyon, which lies near the center of the range, were first studied by Warren K. Moorehead in 1897. Those in Pima Canyon at the range’s eastern terminus were first described in 1890 by Frank Hamilton Cushing. Box Canyon is an enclosed space with petroglyphs hung high around the canyon’s rim. Pima Canyon is an elongated access into the mountains, with petroglyph concentrations centered at the mouth and around springs and seeps. These different settings allow visitors to see the variable contexts in which residents of nearby Hohokam villages made and used rock imagery. Bring water and snacks (lunch can be purchased at various establishments in south Phoenix). References: Bostwick 2002, 2008; Carpenter 2006; Russell and Wright 2009; Russell et al. 2009; Snyder 1966, 1975; Wright 2011, 2014, 2016 Difficulty: Box Canyon: A 0.25-mile loop with no elevation gain. Pima Canyon: A 3-mile loop along Pima Canyon and Pima Wash Trails with around 300 feet of elevation gain. Vehicle Requirement: any Driving Time/Distance (One Way): 1.75 hrs, 115 miles Max. Number of Participants: 20 Fee: no
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