For the last stop of our trip we plan a visit to the Keyhole Sink, an interesting location with petroglyphs that we learned about while researching for the trip. It even has a nice parking lot, usually. Now it is mostly closed due to restoration work with only about four spots open. Still that is enough for us and the other car which leaves almost immediately after we arrive. The trail starts on the other side of the street and on we go, it is a short trail but there is only about one hour left till sunset.
The trail is well marked and quite nice especially in this beautiful weather. And being alone on the trail also makes it even more enjoyable.
To our surprise there was a guide about the nature trail at the start and we use it throughout learning that older ponderosa pines are called yellowbelly and that they change their bark color to yellow as well as starting to smell sweetly. Surprised we smell every older ponderosa tree, and yes it is correct, who knew?
As we approach the Keyhole Sink the canyon becomes more impressive while we start being surveilled by a bald eagle. Not sure if that is a coincidence or not but we keep an eye on the eagle as we continue….just in case.
Reaching the sink we sign in at the register at the entrance before passing through the gate into the keyhole sink proper. We hope that the fence is to keep things out not in but who knows.
We know there are petroglyphs here but initially we have no luck finding them. There are lots of rock faces and even a cave but no petroglyphs are to be found.
And then on the opposite side we find the first one. One is quite impressive really showing a hunt and how they used the keyhole sink to capture herds of deer.
There are three major panels with the biggest one being quite busy. If we squint we can find lots of stories with and about aliens here, guess we watched to much Ancient Aliens the day prior.
As we leave we notice that all the aspen trees are sick here and the brochure doesn’t really give us much hope for them. And then we climb to the Rim to find the cache and to also see the canyon from above before returning to the car. That is not the end of our adventure as we notice that the main road to Phoenix, I-17, is closed so we have to take backroads full of elk and other dangerous animals before arriving late in the evening in Phoenix after a beautiful trip.
