Overview

The Crystal Wash Main Archeological Site (or "Rock Story" site) is an area of desert-varnished, volcanic boulders along a sandy wash and on a gently sloping hillside above the wash. Above the wash, ancient people stayed in the area for long periods of time, probably living here during winters. While here, they flaked stones, built fires, broke ceramic vessels, and etched the rocks with representational (e.g., bighorn sheep and human figures) and abstract images. Back in their time, Crystal Creek probably flowed past the village.

The BLM and Lincoln County opened this area to the public, and Lincoln County printed a brochure with information about the site (including GPS coordinates) as part of their Get Primitive tourism campaign. Download the 57-page brochure from Lincoln County or snatch a copy of the entire guide or just the 3 pages about Crystal Wash Main.

Link to Wide Area Map or Site Map.

The route description presented here is tied to the Lincoln County brochure and the 10 numbered sites along the route, plus one unnumbered site that is passed along the way.

Location

Crystal Wash Main rock art site is located in Lincoln County about 110 miles north of Las Vegas on Highway 93.

From town, drive north on Interstate 15 to US Highway 93. Exit onto Highway 93 and drive north past Alamo and Ash Springs to the intersection of Highway 93 and Highway 318. Continue on Highway 93 for 4.1 miles to a large dirt parking area on the left (north) side of the road with a white trash can.

From the dirt parking area, Crystal Wash Main Road heads north, crosses a cattle guard, bends slight left, and then proceed 100 yards to a T-intersection. Visitors can turn right to Crystal Wash Main petroglyph site or stay straight to the old Shepherd Camp.

Hours

The area is always open, but it probably should be considered day-use only. There are no established camping areas, but campers can stay at the trailhead or at the end of Shepherd Camp Road.

Fees

None.

The Hike

From the trailhead parking area (Table 1, Waypoint 10), the route (no established trail) runs northeast about 30 feet to the sign-in register (Wpt. 11), then another 30 feet to Site 1, the boulder behind Marker #1 (Wpt. 12; note that the actual marker has been stolen and only the rebar post remains). From there, the route turns back and heads over to the wash and follows it downstream for about 0.27 miles to a large Half Boulder in the center of the wash (Wpt. 13). Surprisingly, this well-marked boulder (Site 1a) does not have a marker, and therefore hints at the riches to be found off the beaten path.

From Half Boulder, the route turns south to run around the east side of a boulder field, passing Site 2 (Wpt. 14) and Site 3 (Wpt.15). Winding around the boulder pile at Site 3, the route heads west towards tall, upright boulders on the skyline across the wash and up on a low hill. The boulders are Site 4 (Wpt. 16) and make for a good landmark. Immediately to the east of the Site 04 boulders, Site 5 (Wpt. 17) is an unusual site where petroglyphs are on the flattish bedrock.

Doubling back from Site 5 and continuing northwest past Site 4, the route runs along a wall of cliffs to Site 6 (Wpt. 18), then cross the open area heading north towards the village area. The route passes a shady rock shelter at Site 7 (Wpt. 19), clearly a habitation site with petroglyphs and pictographs, and arrives at Site 8 (Wpt. 20), a remarkable panel high on the wall with several humanoid figures.

Continuing west to circle around to the back side of the humanoid panel (Site 8), the route passes another nice panel (Site 9; Wpt. 21) and then another shelter site (Site 10; Wpt. 22) a bit farther around the corner. Cairns and signs help hikers find their way around the boulders; no climbing required.

Site 10 is the last marked site. From there, the route runs down the gentle hillside (east, southeast) and back into Crystal Wash near Half Boulder (Wpt. 13), which was encountered on the way into the area. The route then runs back up the wash to the trailhead (Wpt. 10).