Round Trip Distance: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6717 - 6739 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 3 hrs. 45 mins.
Trailhead: Wenima Wildlife Refuge
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs, bighorn sheep
The Wenima Wildlife Refuge is just north of Springerville, Arizona. Besides the wildlife at the refuge there are two areas where you can find some petroglyphs and pueblo ruins. This post covers the petroglyphs that can be found near the end of the Powerhouse Trail. Along the way we pass a pueblo ruin on the side of the hill and spot some bighorn sheep in the pasture on the other side of the Little Colorado River.
To get there, drive north from Springerville on US-60 and just out of town go right onto US 180/191. In 1,600 feet turn right onto the Hooper Ranch Road which is signed for the Wildlife Area.
Continue for about 1.5 miles to where the road drops down to the Little Colorado River. There is a parking area and restroom on the right.
From the parking area hike along the road and cross the bridge over the Little Colorado River.
A little past the bridge there is a gate on the right where the Powerhouse trail officially begins.
The Powerhouse trail is fun to hike as it travels along the east bank of the river heading upstream. There are several stretches where the trail is hedged in like in this photo.
We spotted a boys club of 5 bighorn rams on the west side of the river. They were laying down sunning themselves until we came along.
Well past the halfway point of the hike there are some pueblo ruins on the hillside next to the trail. Most of the ruins are on top of the hill. Thinking that they might be on private property we didn't cross the fence to get a closer look.
Near the end of the trail the route wraps around a low point of the hillside. A few of the boulders in this area have some petroglyphs and grinding slicks.
Several of the boulders had images of snakes. We aren't sure whether this is supposed to be 2 snakes spiraled together or something else.
The best boulder is up on top of the little hill above the trail.
The upside down figure would be someone who has died or a dead ancestor.
Next to that image is a 3 fingered figure.
A few of the boulders have grinding slicks.
At the end of the trail is the Powerhouse for which it gets its name.
As far as the Powerhouse trail goes, if you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
