What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 8am - 2pm Thursday 8am - 2pm Friday 8am - 2pm Saturday 8am - 2pm

Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve

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Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve

The Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve is home to over 1500 petroglyphs and is part of the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at ASU

The Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve has the largest concentration of Indigenous petroglyphs in the Phoenix Valley. Visitors walk a quarter-mile trail in a nature preserve to view over 1,500 petroglyphs created between 500 and 7,000 years ago. We promote preservation of and respect for archaeological sites and desert environments through public engagement. HOURS:
CLOSED JUNE AND JULY, REOPENING IN

AUGUST 2025

ADMISSION
General: $14
Seniors (62+), Military, AAA, AARP Students, and Educators (w/ ID): $13
Children (7-12): $5
Children (6 & younger): Free
Indigenous Tribal Members Museum Members, and ASU Students (w/ ID): Free

LOCATION
The Preserve is located at 3711 W. Deer Valley Road, approximately 2 miles north of Highway 101 and 2 miles west of I-17.

*Note: electronic map sites on the Web do not always give accurate directions. Please call if you need help finding us: (623) 582-8007

From I-17 North: Take Deer Valley Road exit. Turn left onto Deer Valley Road. Go past 35th Avenue and the Preserve's front entrance will be two blocks down on the right-hand side. From 101 East (Glendale, Peoria, Sun City): Take 35th Avenue exit. Turn left onto 35th Avenue to Deer Valley Road. The Preserve's front entrance will be two blocks down on the right-hand side. From 101 West (Scottsdale, Paradise Valley): Take 27th Avenue exit. Stay on the frontage road to 35th Avenue. Go right on 35th Avenue to Deer Valley Road.

07/28/2026

Time: 2:26 AM
Mission: Get back home before mom notices we're gone!
What kind of Trail Cam Tuesday shenanigans do you think these two juvenile Coyotes are up to?

07/23/2026

The P.A.S.T. Academy is returning for another session!!

The P.A.S.T. (Pathways in Archaeology, Science and Technology) Academy is a teen academy for high school students who are interested in learning more about and developing the skills needed for careers in archaeology and the museum field!

In this hands-on, 9-month program, students step into the shoes of real archaeologists and museum curators. They'll excavate a mock dig site, uncover the stories hidden in everyday objects, and explore how cutting-edge technology like LiDAR is transforming the way we study the past.

Students will also turn their attention to the present, learning cultural anthropology techniques like interviewing to explore the issues and stories shaping their own communities today, and discovering how those present-day experiences connect back to the past.

Along the way, they'll connect directly with leading archaeologists, anthropologists, and museum professionals from ASU, gaining insider knowledge while helping these experts discover new ways to get teens excited about their fields. The program culminates in designing and building an original exhibit that will go on display at the Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve!

Admission to the P.A.S.T. Academy costs $800, and Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve Members will receive a $100 discount. For those who are interested in the program, but cannot afford the $800 admission, scholarships are available!

Only the interest form is open at the moment, but keep an eye out for when admission is open because space is limited! You can learn more by visiting our website or by going to the link in our bio! Also, click the link in our bio to fill out the interest form!

07/21/2026

Trail Cam Tuesday Pop Quiz!
Who do these tail feathers belong to?
Scroll down for the answer...
Mourning Dove!

07/16/2026

Happy World Snake Day!
Here at the Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve these critters sssssslither there way into our hearts! 🐍💚
Remember folks, treat every creature with respect and distance. Some critters can be dangerous!
Photo 1 & 2: Western Diamondback
Photo 3: Long Nosed snake
Photo 4: Gopher snake

07/14/2026

Meep meep!

Unfortunately, Greater Roadrunners don't make that sound - their call is much cooler! But they do love to run across roads!

Zoomin' into Trail Cam Tuesday!

07/07/2026

Happy hour at the watering hole?
What do you think this rock squirrel, ground squirrel and an Abert's Towhee are chatting about on this Trail Cam Tuesday?
Give us your best caption!

07/06/2026

Happy Sunday! On the first Sunday of every month, we will start highlighting different petroglyphs that you can see here at the Preserve!

While staff at the front desk are always willing to answer any questions you may have during your visit to the Preserve, sometimes it's hard to know what to ask! So, we'll be sharing some of the petroglyphs that are maybe a bit too hard to see or that are particularly interesting that you wouldn't have thought to ask about!

The petroglyph we're highlighting first is the hardest to see but is the most interesting one to find: the oldest petroglyph at our site! What at first looks like just a cute carving of a goat on a boulder, is actually so much more! If you look at the legs of the goat, it looks like it is holding a very faint stick. The last image is from J. Simon Bruder's research, which shows one of the recreations of the boulder based on a rubbing done on it, making the petroglyph easier to see.

The stick that the goat is "holding" is a petroglyph representing an atlatl (i.e., an early version of a bow and arrow) and it is estimated to be 5,000 years old, making it our oldest petroglyph! The desert varnish on all of our boulders has covered the petroglyph over time, making it hard to spot, but it still remains hidden in the arms of the goat petroglyph! It is also one of the only examples of superposition in the petroglyphs at our site. Superposition is when one petroglyph has been made on top of an older petroglyph, and can help with dating the two different petroglyphs!

Just picture this: 5,000 years ago, a person passed through this area, following the stream of Skunk Creek, climbed up the rocks and left the first and only mark on our hillside. Our site would become a regular spot for people to make petroglyphs on around 1,300 years ago, including one person who decided to depict a goat holding the historic atlatl!

While you can't come see this petroglyph for yourself until we open in August, we hope you all at staying cool this summer! Remember if you are going to go outdoors, be it a trail or a different petroglyph site, go early, stay hydrated, and wear sunscreen!

06/30/2026

Welcome to Trail Cam Tuesdays! Every week we will feature fun photos from our trail cam taken around the Preserve.
Javelinas are crepuscular which means they are most active at dawn and dusk.
Have you seen these critters around?

06/28/2026

Happy Pride from all of us at the Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve!

June is Pride Month to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots, where police raided the Stonewall Inn, a safe haven for members of the LGBTQIA2s+ community in New York City's Greenwich Village. Those on the street who saw patrons of Stonewall being treated violently by police came to their aid, and soon a crowd of 400 people rose up to protect their LGBTQIA2s+ neighbors and community members. The riots began on July 28th, 1969 and lasted for six nights.

Pride Month is a month to remember the years of suffering that members of the LGBTQIAs+ community have faced, and show your support for their comfort, well-being, and safety. The Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve is a safe space for the LGBTQIAs+ community all year round, not just during Pride Month!

05/29/2026

The Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve will be closed for the months of June and July, which means tomorrow is your last day to visit the Preserve before it's too late! Keep an eye out on our social media and website to see what day we will reopen in August!

Address

Phoenix, AZ

Opening Hours

Wednesday	8am - 2pm
Thursday	8am - 2pm
Friday	8am - 2pm
Saturday	8am - 2pm

Telephone

+16235828007

Website

https://linktr.ee/asudeervalley

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