The trail begins directly behind the Monument headquarters, and climbs
gradually toward the rock. Just follow the arrows and _do not hurry_. It
is 7,200 feet above sea level here, and the altitude may bother some of
you. The hike past the inscriptions and back to the office normally
takes from 30 to 40 minutes.
After viewing the inscriptions, you may, if you wish, continue up over
the top of the rock and visit two large prehistoric Indian ruins. This
extra hike will take you another 1 to 1½ hours.
Starting near the base of the mesa the trail has been marked with
numbered stations which match the numbered paragraphs in this booklet.
Read and enjoy yourself as you walk.
No one has ever been bitten here, but watch along the path for
rattlesnakes.
Please leave the Monument as neat as you found it.
1. If you look closely at the rock, about 12 feet above the ground,
you will see some notches cut into the sandstone. These are footholds.
Probably most Indians came to the pool by the long, safe way, but
others, caring more for their thirst than their lives, came down from
the mesa top through the high notch to the right and above you.
Do not, under any circumstances, try coming down this short way—the
rock is extremely slippery. If you go to the top, stay on the marked
trail.
2. Now you see why travelers stopped here. There is no spring; the
pool is fed largely by rain falling in July, August, and September, and
by melting snows. When full it is about 12 feet deep and holds about
200,000 gallons of water.