FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site (formerly Painted Rocks State Park)

[Brent A Archinal <barchinal@xxxxxxxx>]

I've been following the messages about possible alternate observing sites 
to the Sentinel site, and was interested in hearing Steve Coe's and 
others' reports about a "Painted Rocks State Park" (and also "Picture 
Rocks State Park").  Having looked carefully at lists of AZ state parks 
before, I was surprised that I did not recall hearing of this park before. 
 The reason, according to their web site at 
http://www.blm.gov/az/pfo/paint.htm, is that it was a state park at one 
time, but is no longer.  The current official name is the Painted Rocks 
Petroglyph Site, and it's under BLM management.  The web site also notes 
that there was once a "Lake Unit" with camping and access to a lake and 
dam, but that area is now closed.  I'm guessing that may be one of the 
areas that Gene Lucas refers to in his e-mail about a SAC star party there 
several years ago.  However, maybe someone from SAC could get special 
permission to use that part of the site?  If possible that might guarantee 
a "disturbance-free" (other campers, lights, cars, illegal aliens) star 
party.
Given the distance from Flagstaff, I haven't observed at Sentinel yet or 
even been in the area of these sites and of Painted Rocks.  But I hope to 
make it down at some point on a long weekend for observing.  At least it's 
a little warmer than the -5 F at my house this morning...

- Brent


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