V-Bar-V Heritage Site

V-Bar-V Heritage Site is an archaeological site featuring petroglyphs carved into smooth cliff faces within a forested canyon setting. The carvings spread across multiple panel sections, with each area displaying distinct motifs and styles carved directly into the stone.

The area was home to inhabitants between 1150 and 1400, who left these carvings as lasting evidence of their presence in the region. After this period, the site was abandoned and remained largely untouched until its rediscovery in modern times.

The carvings on the rock walls display imagery that reflects the daily life and beliefs of those who lived here, showing animals, human forms, and abstract designs. Walking past these panels, you notice how the patterns repeat across different sections, suggesting shared meanings among the community.

A maintained trail leads from the parking area to the petroglyphs and is easy to walk, with enough time to explore each panel section at a relaxed pace. The site is surrounded by trees that provide shade during hot days and protection from the sun.

Some of the carvings are positioned so that shadows and light move across them at specific times of year, possibly serving as a way to mark seasons. This alignment suggests that those who created them were careful observers of natural cycles.

Operator: United States Forest Service

Website: https://fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55424

GPS coordinates: 34.66109,-111.71859

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:10