The White Tank Mountain Regional Park covers nearly 30,000 acres, with the range peaking at just over 4,000 feet. Infrequent heavy rains race through the canyons, pour down chutes and over ledges onto the plains below. These torrential currents have scoured out a series of depressions, or "tanks", in the white granite, hence the name. There are abundant hiking trails throughout the park and a favorite is Waterfall Canyon Trail. As the name implies, the hiker is rewarded with a 75 foot waterfall ( usually no more than a trickle except immediately following a heavy downpour ) at trail's end. Also found along the trail are numerous rocks containing ancient petroglyphs. Petroglyphs are man-made images pecked, incised or scratched into stone that depict a story or event. Many of the petroglyphs found in the White Tanks were made by the Hohokam Indians and date from about 500 to 1100 A.D. Some, however, are believed to be as much as 10,000 years old. Most of these photos were taken along the trail. Enjoy!
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