Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Nevada Searchlight Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs

Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs

Thousands of glyphs created by an unknown culture decorate the rock formations of this canyon.

Searchlight, Nevada

E egf360 profile photo
Added By
egf360
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs   BLM Nevada
Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs   Cirena166
Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs   BLM Nevada
Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs   John Fowler
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Grapevine Canyon is a small, desolate region just southwest of the Grand Canyon filled with ancient petroglyphs. Researchers believe the drawings were created somewhere between 1900 and 1100 B.C. by an unknown culture.

The glyphs can be found in the canyon and along Spirit Mountain. While they are dispersed across the region, a section known as Christmas Tree Pass represents the largest concentration of glyphs. Around 700 etchings and rock shelters are located along the pass. 

Although the meaning behind the glyphs has remained unknown, it's believed that the drawings depict a creation myth. The entire site may have been regarded as a sacred location by the cultures indigenous to the region. 

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Know Before You Go

Grapevine Canyon is approximately 5-8 miles north of Laughlin, Nevada which is 90 miles south of Las Vegas.

Community Contributors

E egf360 profile photo

Added By

egf360

DannyBoy profile photo K knaiad profile photo jonathancarey profile photo M mpholtje profile photo

Edited By

DannyBoy, knaiad, jonathancarey, mpholtje...

  • DannyBoy profile photo DannyBoy
  • K knaiad profile photo knaiad
  • jonathancarey profile photo jonathancarey
  • M mpholtje profile photo mpholtje
  • peterselle profile photo peterselle
  • Z Zahmboni profile photo Zahmboni

Published

November 16, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos

Related Tags

Rocks Petroglyphs Geology
Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs
Grapevine Canyon Rd
Searchlight, Nevada, 89046
United States
35.225825, -114.681773
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Laughlin Labyrinths

Laughlin, Nevada

miles away

Don Laughlin's Classic Car Museum

Laughlin, Nevada

miles away

Fort Mojave Twins

Fort Mohave, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Searchlight

Searchlight

Nevada

Places 3

Nearby Places

Laughlin Labyrinths

Laughlin, Nevada

miles away

Don Laughlin's Classic Car Museum

Laughlin, Nevada

miles away

Fort Mojave Twins

Fort Mohave, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Searchlight

Searchlight

Nevada

Places 3

Related Places

  • Painted Rock

    Santa Margarita, California

    Painted Rock

    The oldest pictographs on this decorated rock formation in California's Carrizo Plain date back as many as 4,000 years.

  • Saimaluu Tash

    Toguz Toro, Kyrgyzstan

    Saimaluu Tash

    These oldest of these "embroidered stones" were carved 4,000 years ago in a high mountain valley.

  • The paintings

    Jääkäri, Finland

    Astuvansalmi Rock Paintings

    These 5,000-year-old cave paintings provide a glimpse into prehistoric Finnish life.

  • The largest of Longmire's Rocks.

    Ecclerigg, England

    Longmire's Rocks

    These curious rocks located in the Lake District include several strange inscriptions of famous names.

  • Las Labradas

    San Ignacio, Mexico

    Las Labradas

    This gorgeous stretch of coastline is home to beautiful views and centuries-old rock art.

  • Smaller giraffe and other animal petroglyphs at Dabous.

    Niger

    Dabous Giraffes

    These ancient giraffes are the largest known animal petroglyphs in the world.

  • V Bar V Heritage Site

    Rimrock, Arizona

    Crane Heritage Site

    The largest and most well-preserved petroglyph site in the Verde Valley.

  • Newspaper Rock.

    Monticello, Utah

    Newspaper Rock

    One of the world’s largest collections of petroglyphs records 2,000 years of human activity.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.