A VERY NICE PANEL HIGH UP ON PETRGLYPH ROCK IN CANYON DE CHELLY. MARCH 8, 2026

Petroglyph Rock Gallery

CDC – 139


I visited Petroglyph Rock in Canyon de Chelley on the morning of Sunday, March 8, 2026 during my 2026 Rock Art Trip.  This was our second stop on our second day in Canyon de Chelley and we enjoyed some nice soft moring light.  The petroglyphs at this site are located on a large monolith (almost 100 feet high) located between the entrances to Cottonwood and Tunnel canyons.  High up on a ledge are some Great Pueblo era petroglyphs, while there are some much newer Navajo petroglyphs around the base of the monolith.  

 

This first group of photos are petroglyphs high up on Petrglyph Rock.

THIS AREA OF PETROGLYPH ROCK WAS WAY UP HIGH AND PROBABLY TOOK SOME CLIMBING SKILLS TO GET TO.
DETAIL OF THE ROUND BODIED FIGURE AT PETRGLYPH ROCK.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE HUMAN FIGURE WITH THE TRIANGULAR BODY AT PETROGLYPH ROCK.
QUITE THE LINE OF BIRDS!
THE TWO HUMAN FIGURES IN THE CENTER OF THE PANEL ARE INTRIGUING. HOLDING A ROPE?!
THIS UNIQUE PANEL IS FEATURED IN CAMPBELL GRANT'S BOOK ON PAGE 191 (FIG.4.41), ANCILLARY TO HIS DISCUSSION OF THE RARITY OF BIGHORN SHEEP IN THE CANYON.
EXTREME RIGHT HAND PORTION OF THE SHEEP PANEL SHOWN ABOVE.
AREA BELOW THE MAIN SHEEP PANEL. NOTE THE TRACKS AND THE DIFFERENCE IN ANTLERS.
THE EXECUTION ON THIS PANEL IS QUITE NICE.
A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE HUMAN FIGURES AT PETROGLYPH ROCK.

Up high at Petroglyph Rock there is also an area with a few very old, deeply incised petrgolyphs. 

A VERY ROUGH CIRCLE ELEMENT AT PETROGLYPH ROCK.
HUMAN FIGURE WITH UP-RAISED HANDS.
MORE VERY ROUGH HUMAN FIGURES.

Photos of the Navajo petroglyphs near the base of Petroglyph Rock.  

HUNTING SCENE?
I DON'T RECALL SEEING GEOMETRICS LIKE THESE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CANYONS
THIS PETROGLYPH ALMOST SEEMED OUT OF PLACE.

A nice photo from my friend Richard helps put Petroglyph Rock in context.