Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Arizona Phoenix Hole-in-the-Rock
AO Edited

Hole-in-the-Rock

Millions of years of erosion created the feature for which this rock formation is aptly named.

Phoenix, Arizona

Added By
James Knox
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Hole-in-the-Rock   Dru Bloomfield / CC BY 2.0
Papago Buttes   Joe Flood / CC BY-SA 3.0
  knoxium / Atlas Obscura User
view from inside the hole   knoxium / Atlas Obscura User
People inside Hole-in-the-Rock   Bigmacthealmanac
  mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
  HamburgerPatti / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In Phoenix's Papago Park, there is a small hill made of red sandstone with large cavities, called tafoni, caused by erosion. One is so large that it creates an opening to the other side of the rock that can be hiked up to reach great views of the park. 

The rock features in what is now Papago Park are estimated to be around 20 million years old. Millions of years of erosion created the openings in the sandstone for which this landmark is aptly named. Archaeologists believe that the formation was used by the Indigenous Hohokam people as a sort of calendar. There is evidence that markings in the rock were made to indicate the position of the sun shining through the opening in the rear side of the rock, which differed throughout the seasons.

The rock formation is reachable either by hiking up a flatter, easier path behind the rock, or a steeper climb straight up the front side. Note that the latter choice is not recommended for inexperienced climbers.

Related Tags

Archaeology Indigenous Geological Oddities Parks Rock Formations Rocks Holes

Community Contributors

Added By

knoxium

Edited By

cdanesh, mocchiatto, Michelle Cassidy, HamburgerPatti

  • cdanesh
  • mocchiatto
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • HamburgerPatti

Published

September 9, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://itssedimentary.com/2016/02/21/hole-in-the-rock-arizona-papago-park-located/
  • https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-contributor/2016/04/19/hole-rock-papago-park/83217684/
  • http://www.arizona-leisure.com/papago-park-hiking.html
Hole-in-the-Rock
625 N Galvin Pkwy
Phoenix, Arizona, 85008
United States
33.456487, -111.945261
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Governor Hunt's Pyramid Tomb

Phoenix, Arizona

miles away

The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting

Phoenix, Arizona

miles away

Eisendrath House

Tempe, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Phoenix

Phoenix

Arizona

Places 24
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Governor Hunt's Pyramid Tomb

Phoenix, Arizona

miles away

The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting

Phoenix, Arizona

miles away

Eisendrath House

Tempe, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Phoenix

Phoenix

Arizona

Places 24
Stories 3

Related Places

  • Reached via a relatively easy mile hike, Balanced Rock is a perfect adventure for those with just a short time in the park.

    Big Bend National Park, Texas

    Balanced Rock

    This gravity-defying rock formation is one of Big Bend’s natural wonders.

  • Medicine Rocks State Park

    Ekalaka, Montana

    Medicine Rocks State Park

    This beautiful ancient site is dotted with perforated sandstone pillars considered sacred by some Native American groups.

  • Vancouver, British Columbia

    Siwash Rock

    According to the local First Nations folklore, this rock was once a man.

  • Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks.

    Ko Samui, Thailand

    Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks (Hin Ta Hin Yai)

    This natural rock formation has an anatomical aesthetic.

  • Colorful sandstone cliff just west of the Colorock Quarry.

    Moapa Valley, Nevada

    Buffington Pockets

    The rocks exposed at Valley of Fire State Park also occur in a much less known but equally spectacular area a few miles to the southwest.

  • Grampian, Pennsylvania

    Bilger's Rocks

    Rocky outcrops containing overhangs, caves, fissures, clefts, and alcoves that invite exploration and scrambling.

  • After extensive renovations in the 1990s, the mine was opened to the public.

    Scotia, Nebraska

    Happy Jack Chalk Mine

    After sitting abandoned for decades, this historic mine is now the only publicly accessible chalk room and pillar mine in North America.

  • Mexican Hat

    Mexican Hat, Utah

    Mexican Hat

    This balancing rock is one of Utah's most unusual geological formations.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.