Round Trip Distance: 0.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 3960 - 3998 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 1 hrs 30 mins.
Trailhead: 35.14567, -115.15907
Mojave Road turnoff: 35.13859, -115.18691
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs
The well known Indian Well Petroglyphs, a.k.a. Lanfair Buttes, are located in the Mojave National Preserve northwest of Needles, California. The well was a major source of water in the vast parched Mojave Desert from ancient times to the era of the Mojave Road and Government Road. Hundreds of petroglyphs can be found on the boulder covered hillside all around the well.
Entering the trailhead coordinates into your driving app might try to send you there via the Rancho Road which is not a good route. It is better to enter the coordinates for the turnoff on the Lanfair Road onto the Mojave Road which are 35.13859, -115.18691. If coming from the direction of I-15 to the north be very careful on the dirt portion of the Ivanpah Road as the are washed out spots that will certainly wreck your vehicle if you hit them. The better and shorter route is to come over via the Cedar Canyon Road or up from I-40.
After turning off onto the Mojave Road turn left at the 4-way intersection that comes up at the 1.4 mile point. The Mojave Road is a high clearance 4WD route although we had no trouble staying in 2WD. After turning left at the 4-way intersection drive another 1.2 miles and turn right.
Indian Well sits down next to the road. All of the boulders around the well are covered with petroglyphs as are most of the boulders all around the entire point of cliffs.
As many of the images are high up in almost inaccessible places a zoom lens will come in very handy for taking photos.
These are a few of the hundreds of petroglyphs at Indian Well.
If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
