Painted Rock Self Guided Tour

Carrizo Plain National Monument Tours

The sandstone formation at Painted Rock has long drawn the attention of Carrizo Plain visitors. About 3,000 - 4,000 years ago, Native Americans began to paint their sacred images within the alcove of the rock. Not surprisingly, the power of this place continues to enthrall, and it still receives many visitors today. The Painted Rock Self Guided Tour gives you a unique experience you cannot get any other place in the world. It is a 1.4 mile round trip hike where you get to experience Painted Rock and its wonderful Native American Pictographs.

Painted Rock Self Guided Tour is offered daily from July 16th to February 28th/29th. You must obtain a gate code when making a self-guided tour reservation in order to access Painted Rock. Your gate code will be in your confirmation e-mail. Once you have your gate code, you can visit Painted Rock anytime during daylight hours on the date of your tour. Ensure you bring your gate code with you or you will not be able to access Painted Rock.

Groups of 20 or more must contact the Bureau of Land Management at 661-391-6088 before making a reservation.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• YOU MUST HAVE THE GATE CODE TO ACCESS PAINTED ROCK.

  Please call the contact center in order to receive the gate code to access Painted Rock. Call 877-444-6777 (Toll-Free), 606-515-6777 (International), or 877-833-6777 (TDD) from 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. (Eastern Time Zone) for additional assistance. For Self-Guided tour only - once you make your reservation and have a gate code, you can visit Painted Rock anytime during daylight hours on the date of your tour. 

• Resource Protection
  • Pets are not allowed at Painted Rock or the Painted Rock trailhead/parking lot.
  • Don't deface cultural sites by carving, painting, drawing or shooting.
  • Don't dig or otherwise disturb the ground surface in or near cultural sites.
  • Don't touch or climb sandstone outcrops, many of which contain cultural features. Contact with the sandstone damages the mineral crust which protects the stone from erosion.
  • Don't move, remove or arrange stones, wood or other features. The precise original location of objects is important to our understanding of their significance.
  • Don't damage historical buildings and objects by climbing or entering them.
  • Don't disturb nesting birds, bats or other wildlife.
  • Don't place caches in or near cultural sites.
  • Please respect closure orders. These areas are closed to protect exceptionally sensitive cultural and natural resources. Unauthorized entry will be prosecuted under Federal regulations 43 CFR 8364.1 (d).
  • Cultural sites on Federal lands are legally protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and violation could result in fines and imprisonment.
  • Please assist us in protecting these often fragile and vulnerable places by being good stewards of your public lands.
  • Carpool whenever possible.
  • Groups of 20 or more must contact Carrizo Plain National Monument at 661-391-6088, prior to making reservations.

• Safety
  • Be prepared for heat and sun; bring sunscreen, hat, plenty of water and food.   
  • There are no services (gas, food, water) available on the monument.
  • Rattlesnakes are commonly seen on the trail and at Painted Rock.
  • Cell phone service is spotty at best on the monument.
  • During rain, be prepared for possibility of muddy roads.

Photo Gallery