The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
Day Use Areas in Arizona
Photo: Bnordlund / CC BY-SA 3.0
Near Kanab, UT in Arizona
What to Pack for The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
A well-packed bag handles most of what this area can throw at you.
Between the Desert terrain and bear activity, your pack for The Maze Rock Art Site needs a few specific items.
Essential
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Water (minimum 2L) — Water sources marked on maps may be seasonal or dry; carrying enough to complete your route prevents a dangerous shortfall.
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Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Getting lost is the leading cause of backcountry search-and-rescue calls; reliable navigation prevents the situation entirely.
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Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — Prolonged sun exposure causes headaches, fatigue, and heat exhaustion that can cut a trip short or create a medical emergency.
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First aid kit — Remote locations mean longer response times for help; a first aid kit bridges the gap between injury and professional care.
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Extra food — High-energy snacks weigh little but provide crucial fuel if you need to bushwhack out or wait for conditions to improve.
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Headlamp with extra batteries — Hands-free light is essential for navigating uneven terrain, setting up camp, or signaling for help at night.
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Fire starter — Waterproof matches or a ferro rod weigh almost nothing and can be the difference between a cold night and a survivable one.
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Emergency shelter (space blanket) — Wind and rain strip heat faster than most people realize; a compact emergency shelter blocks both.
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Knife or multi-tool — A multi-tool handles problems you can't predict: jammed zippers, tangled line, first-aid tape cutting, or gear fixes on the trail.
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Extra clothing layer — A lightweight fleece or puffy stuffs small but provides critical insulation if temperatures drop unexpectedly.
Wildlife Gear
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Bear canister — Many backcountry areas require approved bear canisters; an improperly stored food bag can result in fines and lost supplies.
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Bear spray — A 30-foot spray cone gives you a critical buffer zone during a charge, without requiring precise aim under extreme stress.
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Bear bell — Bears typically avoid humans when given advance warning; the steady jingle of a bear bell lets them move away before you arrive.
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Hiking buddy (avoid solo) — A companion can help with first aid, signaling, and decision-making if a wildlife encounter turns serious.
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Noise maker — Group noise is especially important in dense brush or near berry patches where bears may be feeding and less alert.
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Gaiters — Thick gaiters deflect fangs before they reach skin, buying critical time in areas with rattlesnakes or copperheads.
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First-aid snakebite kit — Knowing how to immobilize a limb, mark swelling progression, and avoid harmful folk remedies can improve outcomes.
Climate Gear
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Layering system (wide temp swings) — A base layer, insulating mid-layer, and wind shell cover the full range of temperatures you might encounter in a single day.
Terrain Gear
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Wide-brim hat — At high elevation where UV is 10-12% stronger per 1,000 feet of gain, a hat provides constant passive protection.
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Sunscreen SPF50+ — Sunburn isn't just discomfort — severe burns cause fluid loss, fatigue, and impaired thermoregulation that compound in remote settings.
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Extra water (desert) — In arid heat, your body loses 1-2 liters per hour during exertion; running out of water in the desert is life-threatening.
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SPF50 lip balm — High elevation, snow glare, and desert sun amplify UV exposure on exposed facial skin, especially lips.
Seasonal Gear
- Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
- Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)
- Winter: Microspikes/traction devices
Activities & Best Time to Visit The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
The Desert terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.
Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr is the prime window for visiting The Maze Rock Art Site, when conditions favor photography and the weather cooperates.
With a photography score of 65/100, The Maze Rock Art Site offers Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2) and 3 excellent meteor showers worth capturing.
Activities
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photography — Golden hour and dramatic weather can transform ordinary scenes into striking images.
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picnicking — Picnicking turns a scenic overlook or shady grove into a memorable gathering spot.
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walking — Walking lets you slow down and notice details — wildflowers, birdsong, shifting light through trees.
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wildlife_viewing — Early mornings and dusk offer the best chances to quietly spot native wildlife.
Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Terrain: Desert — Cacti, shrubs, and drought-tolerant plants dominate arid landscapes.
Wildlife Safety at The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
A few species in this area warrant awareness — here's what to keep in mind.
The Maze Rock Art Site carries a danger score of 45/10, driven primarily by bears.
- Bears present
- Mountain lions
- Venomous snakes
- Remote (182mi from city)
- Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2)
- 3 excellent meteor showers
- Fall foliage
- Spring wildflowers
Bears
Black Bear inhabit the forests around The Maze Rock Art Site, foraging for berries, insects, and nuts.
Color varies widely from jet black to cinnamon brown, and occasionally blond, sometimes with a pale chest patch.
Store all food and scented items in bear-resistant containers and keep a clean campsite.
- Store food properly - use bear boxes or hang food bags
- Keep a clean camp - no food scraps
- Make noise while hiking
- Never approach cubs - mother is nearby
- Back away slowly if you encounter a bear
Venomous Snakes
Watch your step — are present in the Desert habitat around The Maze Rock Art Site.
- Watch where you step and place hands
- Stay on trails
- Wear boots and long pants in snake country
- Do not reach under rocks or logs
- If bitten: stay calm, immobilize limb, seek medical help immediately
- Do NOT: cut wound, suck venom, apply tourniquet, ice, or alcohol
Nature & Wildlife at The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
The Desert terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.
Biodiversity at The Maze Rock Art Site is shaped by the Desert terrain and Arid climate, producing distinct plant and animal communities.
Trees (2)
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Southwestern Ponderosa Pine — Needles grow in bundles of three and cluster toward branch tips. -
Gambel Oak — The bark is gray and furrowed, while acorns develop singly or in small clusters.
Wildflowers (1)
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Stansbury's Cliffrose — Creamy white five-petaled flowers with yellow centers.
Shrubs (2)
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Roundleaf buffaloberry — A thorny shrub with silvery round leaves and small yellow flowers. -
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus — Bright cup-shaped flowers open in sunlight and are followed by spiny fruits. It thrives in rocky desert slopes and well-drained soils.
Other Plants (5)
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Whipple Cholla
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Spinystar
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Kingcup Cactus
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Utah Juniper
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Plains Pricklypear
Mammals (5)
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Abert's Squirrel — White underside and bushy tail edged in white. -
Mule Deer — Coat ranges from tawny brown in summer to gray-brown in winter. -
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel — Two bold stripes run along the back but none on the face. -
Pronghorn — Both sexes have short, curved horns with a forward prong. -
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel — White underside and underside of tail.
Birds (10)
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Common Raven — Broad wings with fingered primaries -
Horned Lark — Small black feather tufts -
California Condor — White wing patches -
Bald Eagle — Dark brown juvenile without white head -
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay — Gray back
Reptiles (9)
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Desert Spiny Lizard — Males may show blue patches on the underside. -
Common Side-blotched Lizard — Distinct dark blotch behind the front legs on each side. -
Greater Short-horned Lizard — Color matches surrounding soil in browns and grays. -
Ornate Tree Lizard — Males may show bluish patches on the belly. -
Gopher Snake — Head is slightly broader than the neck and often patterned with dark facial markings.
Insects (7)
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Convergent Lady Beetle -
Hunt's Bumble Bee -
Pandora Pinemoth -
Anicia Checkerspot -
Painted Lady
Nature Bingo at The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.
Wildlife Challenge
Botany Challenge
The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino Climate & Sun
Use this climate breakdown to plan around the weather.
Temperature and precipitation data for The Maze Rock Art Site help narrow down the ideal visit window.
Climate type: Arid
Annual avg temp: 53.8°F
Annual precipitation: 10.1 in
With an average annual temperature of 53.8°F and 10.1 inches of precipitation, The Maze Rock Art Site has mild, dry conditions. Summer highs average around 77°F, while winter lows drop to 33°F.
Best months to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Aug, Sep, Oct.
| Month | Avg Temp | Precip |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 0.9 in |
| Feb | 37°F | 1.2 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 0.9 in |
| Apr | 51°F | 0.5 in |
| May | 60°F | 0.6 in |
| Jun | 71°F | 0.3 in |
| Jul | 77°F | 0.8 in |
| Aug | 75°F | 1.2 in |
| Sep | 67°F | 1.2 in |
| Oct | 55°F | 1.1 in |
| Nov | 42°F | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 33°F | 0.7 in |
Daylight & Sun Times
Daylight ranges from 9.6 hours in winter to 14.7 hours in summer — a difference of 5.1 hours.
Summer: 5:07 AM – 7:48 PM
Winter: 7:33 AM – 5:12 PM
The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino Trip Planning & Access
With the lay of the land covered, here are the trip planning details.
At 182 miles from Las Vegas, The Maze Rock Art Site is a longer road trip for most visitors.
Visitor Friendliness
Visitor friendliness: families (excellent), dogs (likely_allowed), elderly (highly_suitable).
- Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
- Families: excellent
- Elderly: highly_suitable
- Strollers: excellent (100/100)
- Beginners: Perfect for beginners (Easy difficulty - perfect for beginners (+20))
- Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (100/100)
Places Near The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
Nearby trails, campgrounds, and attractions expand what you can do on this trip.
Don't limit your trip to just The Maze Rock Art Site — the surrounding area has 14 more places to discover.
Nearby Trails
- Navajo Trail, Coconino 11.47 mi
- Kai-vav-wi Nature Trail, Coconino 21.47 mi
- Ceballos Trail, Coconino 21.54 mi
- North Timp Snowmobile Trail, Coconino 21.62 mi
- Jacob Canyon Trail, Coconino 24 mi
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby Attractions
Stargazing & Night Sky at The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
Don't pack up when the sun goes down — the night sky here has plenty to offer.
Night falls differently here — the Bortle 1 rating means Excellent dark-sky site visibility for stars, planets, and meteor showers.
Constellations
Look for Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia, Cepheus — all visible from this location depending on the season.
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Ursa Minor — This compact constellation contains Polaris at the end of its handle, a reliable guide to true north. -
Cassiopeia — This constellation represents a mythological queen and lies opposite the Big Dipper across Polaris. -
Cepheus — Named for a mythological king, this constellation sits beside Cassiopeia and is circumpolar in northern latitudes.
Meteor Showers
For meteor viewing, the Geminids (December 13-14) offers the best show at this location.
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Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)Cold December air often means clear skies—look overhead after midnight for bright, slow-moving meteors.
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Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (excellent)Bundle up—January nights are frigid, but dark skies can produce bright fireballs.
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Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)Peak activity typically builds after midnight when Perseus climbs higher.
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Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)Southern U.S. observers often get better rates due to the radiant's position.
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Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (fair)This steady shower rewards patient observers in dark, moonless conditions.
Planets
Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:
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Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star -
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky -
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light -
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue
Equipment Guide
- Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
- Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
- Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune
Viewing Tips
- Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
- Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
- Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
- Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
- Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
- Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)
Best Viewing Months
- Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
- Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep
Seasonal Highlights at The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
Different seasons reveal different sides of The Maze Rock Art Site.
Nature at The Maze Rock Art Site follows a seasonal calendar — here's when to come for what you want to see.
Spring Wildflowers
Peak bloom: April - May
Check local park websites for bloom reports
Fall Foliage
Peak color: September 15 – October 10
Best trees for color: Aspen, Cottonwood, Scrub Oak
At 5318ft elevation, expect peak 1-2 weeks earlier
Bird Migration
Spring peak: April - May
Fall peak: September - October
Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges
Indigenous Land at The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino
This landscape holds cultural significance that extends far beyond recreation.
The cultural landscape of The Maze Rock Art Site reflects the long presence of Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute), Pueblos, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) on this land.
Territories
Languages
1 Indigenous languages are associated with the peoples of this area: Southern Paiute.
Data from Native Land Digital
The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino Geology & Natural History
Beyond the trails and wildlife, The Maze Rock Art Site sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.
Bedrock Geology
- Rock Type
- Glen Canyon Group
- Formation
- Navajo Sandstone; Kayenta Formation; Moenave Formation
- Lithology
- Major:{sandstone}, Minor:{siltstone,sandstone mudstone}
- Age
- Jurassic
Fossils
- Fossil Occurrences
- 8
- Unique Species
- 7
- Oldest
- 192.9 million years ago
Mineral Deposits
- Deposit Sites
- 3
- Richness
- Low
- Minerals Found
- Uranium, Copper, Molybdenum, Sand and Gravel, Construction
Endangered Species
- Species at Risk
- 1478
- ESA Endangered
- 29
- ESA Threatened
- 16
- Conservation Score
- 100/100
Temperature Records
- Record High
- 104°F (2021-07-10)
- Record Low
- -12°F (2007-01-14)
Wildfire History
This area has a relatively low wildfire risk, but always follow posted fire regulations.
- Recorded Fires
- 24
- Largest Fire
- Warm Wfu (19,514.7 acres)
- Most Recent
- 2024
- Fire Risk
- Extreme
Watershed
- Watershed
- Corral Valley
- Water Quality (Good)
- 0%
- Impaired
- 0%
Reported Phenomena
- Bigfoot Reports
- 1 (BFRO)
- Eeriness Score
- 8/100
The Maze Rock Art Site, Coconino Safety & Conditions
For up-to-the-minute safety information, use these official resources.
Don't rely on forecasts alone — check these live sources for the latest conditions near The Maze Rock Art Site.
Coordinates: 36.985741, -112.025863