Sand Island Campground and Petroglyphs

Sand Island Recreation Area hosts a campground, boat launch, and a large petroglyph panel with relatively easy access. Located off Highway 191 west of Bluff, Sand Island is an oasis for travelers in the region. Managed by the BLM, the campground is an oasis for travelers seeking a campsite along the banks of the San Juan River. The campground has vault toilets, water, picnic tables, and fire rings. Sites can accommodate a range of camping styles, from RVs to tents. The boat launch serves fishermen and float trips down the San Juan. The petroglyph panel is located on the western spur of the campground roads. A high sandstone cliff carries centuries of rock art. The oldest rock art dates back 3000 years, with the newest a mere 300 years old. Unfortunately, there's also modern graffiti. You get bonus points for spotting the 300-year-old rock art and knowing why it can be dated so precisely.