Black Mountain, north of Hinkley, California, is on the National Register of Historic places for its large number of rock art sites. The area has over 10,000 documented petroglyphs dating back to over 12,000 years ago. One of the more prominent sites, Inscription Canyon, has over 1,000 petroglyphs alone! Some petroglyphs are simple lines, dots, circles, and zig-zags. More complex petroglyphs, such as bighorn sheep and humanoid figures, are also in the area.

This is a fascinating place to visit. Those that are interested in rock art could easily spend days viewing the sites. Keep in mind, the loop described here is a long drive into a remote and rugged area. Before visiting, make sure your gas tank is full. You should also have extra food and water, a spare tire, and plenty of supplies in case something happens while driving the loop.

This is not a place to visit in the heat of the summer, and beware of muddy roads after recent precipitation. We visited in the middle of winter, and it was an absolutely lovely time to visit.

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