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The road to Rock Art Ranch is excellent for all types of vehicles.  However, I did note a sign that indicates that SR 99 will not by plowed or maintained during winter snows.  Also, I thought the dirt roads all looked like they would provide an entertaining, slick ride in wet weather.  Past the ranch house the trail to the Petroglyphs is apt to become choked with fine, blowing sand but the family sedan should be able to negotiate it - and that portion of the trip is guided so help is available if required.

The "entry fee" seems to be determined by negotiation - but it is really dependent upon the number of people in the group.  Of course the Ranch is privately owned, and the fees collected are used to off-set some of the costs of continuing improvement to the site. I believe that everyone in our small group voluntarily "contributed" somewhat more than the nominal sum requested.  Contact the Bairds at (928) 288- 3260 for details.  (Sunday tours were not available so plan accordingly.)

As we go through life, we are occasionally fortunate to have the opportunity to meet solid, genuine people - meeting Brantley Baird is one those occasions.  The Baird family has owned the Rock Art Ranch  since 1945 and they continue at this time with the ranching operations.  At the time the family purchased the ranch, they were aware of the petroglyphs in Chevelon Canyon but I believe the treasure trove of artifacts collected over the years has been a surprise even to them.  Fortunately, the land and artifacts could not have ended up in better hands, as the value and importance of the artifacts has been well preserved in a private collection.  Brantley has had a team of archeologists from NAU out to document the petroglyph site and for the last 8 years he has allowed the public onto the site to view the petroglyphs. 

In addition to the private collection in their Anasazi Museum, over time the Bairds have assembled a collection of cowboy artifacts and petrified wood as they put together a Cowboy museum.  The barn provides a location for catering large or small groups, houses the cowboy museum and provides access to the Anasazi museum, which is contained in two small side-rooms.  After touring those facilities, Brantley will lead the tour to the petroglyphs, a tour which stops first at a small ruin and hogan and then at a "map" rock before reaching Chevelon canyon.  

The hogan has been restored and is kept in good condition by local Navaho's who are employed to replace the "mud" outer layer every couple of years.  The rock building has been left as it was found; that is, until an elk used it as a scratching post and pushed down a corner of it.  Brantley has had that portion of the building restored.  The "map" rock is a horizontal slab of slick rock that was used as a petroglyph site along what might be a migration route.  Some ancient camp sites have been found in the area along with a quantity of pottery shards.  Among the petroglyphs on the rock is one that appears to faithfully depict the course of the nearby stream in Chevelon canyon and which ends in a helical design.  The helix may indicate an area of permanent water.  The protection of the "map" rock is a major concern of  Brantley - currently it is fully exposed to the elements. Its petroglyphs have become so faint that they are hard to see and nearly impossible to photograph.

A visit to the Rock Art Ranch is a must for anyone with even the slightest interest in the culture and history of Native Americans.  The artifacts were a wonderful, unexpected surprise and the petroglyphs are outstanding - the trip was time well spent.

Enjoy the albums,

Trekker