Painted Rock
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New Permit System to Visit Painted Rock
Beginning Nov. 10, the Bureau of Land Management will require permits to visit the pictograph site at Painted Rock on the Carrizo Plain National Monument.
“Painted Rock is widely considered to be among the finest examples of Native American pictograph painting in the world. Although the original painted panels have been damaged, largely due to turn of the century souvenir collectors who purposely removed sections of paint, a significant amount of the paintings are intact. Painted Rock continues to hold important spiritual values for contemporary Native American people who often visit the site for ceremonies and religious observances,” said Tamara Whitley, archaeologist in the BLM Bakersfield Field Office.
The BLM manages Painted Rock for public visitation and education while balancing Native American values and concerns. The permit application process allows the BLM to educate the public about appropriate visitation of the site monitor impacts through the visitor tracking system.
Permits will be available online at recreation.gov, by phone at the numbers listed below and, if space is available, at the Goodwin Education Center on the Carrizo Plain National Monument when open. Permits booked through recreation.gov will be charged a $1.50 processing fee for each permit.
From March 1 to July 15, Painted Rock will be open for guided tours only. Reservations for guided tours, which also visit the Soda Lake Overlook and wildflower viewing sites, can also be made online at recreation.gov, by phone at the numbers listed below or, at the Goodwin Education Center. Larger group tours must be booked through the Goodwin Education Center by calling (805) 475-2131. The Goodwin Education Center is open December through May, Thursdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Painted Rock Important Dates
Goodwin Education Center open December through May
Guided tours offered by the Goodwin Education Center staff mid March thru May
Painted Rock closed March 1 to July 15; guided tour access only
Permit required for unguided public access to Painted Rock July 16 to end of February |
