Keyhole Sink Trail #114

Area Status: Open

This trail provides the visitor with an easy-to-hike pathway to a scenic box canyon where prehistoric residents left their mark carved into the canyon's gray volcanic walls. Roughly 1,000 years ago, some ancient artisan or artisans pecked images into the dark basalt using another rock as a tool. These images are called petroglyphs. The message that they portray suggests that the area was important to that ancient communicator as a hunting ground. One of the petroglyphs is a dramatic depiction of a deer herd entering the canyon. Take note of that and keep a sharp eye. This area is still an excellent place to encounter wildlife. While you're visiting the Keyhole Sink Trail, please respect the irreplaceable traces of the past that you find along it. Leave them undisturbed so that others may enjoy them as you have.

The trail traverses easy terrain through a ponderosa pine forest. The return trip from Keyhole Sink is over the same trail. The trail is marked for cross-country skiing with blue triangles.

Rock Art Documentation of the Keyhole Site (9 mb .pdf) details the restoration and repair efforts undertaken to clean up and preserve the Keyhole Sink Trail.

Photos of Keyhole Sink Interpretive Site at http://bit.ly/KeyholeSinkPhotos

Trifold Brochure of Keyhole Sink Interpretive Site (7 mb .pdf)

At a Glance

Fees:	None.
Best Season:	Year round.
Restrictions:	No motorized vehicles on the trail.
Water:	None. Bring everything you need.
Restroom:	One vault toilet available.

General Information

Directions:

Location: The Keyhole Sink Trail is located about 10 miles east of Williams on Historic Route 66.

Access #1: From Williams, go about 8 miles east on I-40 to the Pitman Valley exit #171. After exiting, turn left to cross over the freeway and then immediately turn to the right (east) onto Historic Route 66; go about 2 miles to the Oak Hill Snow Play area on your right (watch for signs).

Access #2: From Flagstaff, take I-40 west 16 miles to the Parks exit #178. Turn right and go to Historic Route 66. Turn left on to Historic Route 66 and continue 4 miles to the Oak Hill Snow Play Area to park on your left.

Parking:

A parking area for approximately 20 cars is located just off Historic Route 66 and is shared with the visitors that go to the Oak Hill Snow Play Area (area is unavailable). To access the trail you must walk across the Route 66 road after parking.

Parking is NOT allowed alongside of the historic Route 66 near the Snow Play and Keyhole Sink Trail and you could be ticketed.