Brooklyn Lookout Petroglyphs

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4026 - 4121 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Brooklyn Group Ruin 1
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs

The Brooklyn Lookout Petroglyphs are located in the Tonto National Forest, bordering on the Agua Fria National Monument, northeast of Black Canyon City, Arizona. Sitting atop a small hill not far from a nearby watering hole the site contains numerous deer and sheep images that hint at ancient hunting magic.

To get there follow the directions to the Brooklyn Group of ruins. A good place to start is to park on the left right before reaching the 1st ruin of the Brooklyn Group.

At present there isn't a trail to follow but it is easy enough to just hike toward the rocky outcrop on top of the little hill to the south of the 1st ruin.

The petroglyphs are easily found as you approach the rocky hilltop. Most of them are on the right side of the hill.

If you are taking photos a zoom lens will help you not have to climb over as many boulders to get closeups.

Most every rock seems to have some sort of deer or sheep image.

There are a few others that resemble people.

Here is a rock with some sharpening grooves. Some of them form a reticulated pattern.

To the north of Lookout Point there is a valley that drains into South Campbell Tank. This is a photo of a spring that is about a quarter mile up from the tank. In the background you can see the Brooklyn Lookout.

Below the hill to the south and east is the Squaw Creek drainage.

With all of the hunting magic type of images it could be that the lookout was used more to watch for game in the area to which hunters from the pueblos could be dispatched than simply a place to watch out for marauders. While we were in the area, besides cattle, we saw a few deer and antelope. There were a lot of fresh tracks in the mud around the spring that we showed. If you would like to see the place for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.