See Atlatl Rock, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

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Atlatl Rock sports a collection of ancient Native American rock art, or petroglyphs, on a boulder about fifty feet off the ground.The rock is named for the atlatl--a notched stick used to throw primitive spears--that is depicted. A predecessor to the bow and arrow, this atlatl is thought to have been carved into the rock about 2,500 years ago by the Basketmaker culture. If you’d like to try your hand at this ancient weapon, the Valley of Fire State Park hosts an Annual Atlatl Competition in which participants test their skills with replicas of ancient spears. Distance: The trail to Atlatl Rock is only about 250 feet long and most of that is stairs. A metal staircase has been installed on the side of the red sandstone formation to take visitors right up to a viewing area in front of the petroglyphs. How to Get There: From Las Vegas, take Interstate 15 north for 35 miles to exit 75. At the end of the off-ramp, continue southeast on Valley of Fire Highway. Reach the park’s west entrance after 14.5 miles. Drive another 1.8 miles. Turn left onto Scenic Loop Road (Campground Road), which will be the first paved road on the left, directly across from a gravel road to Petrified Logs Loop. Drive half a mile, passing the entrance to Atlatl Rock Campground, and turn left into the parking area below Atlatl Rock. TIPS: Park entrance fee to visit Valley of Fire State Park.

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