The Blythe Intaglios
4/18/2016
The Blythe Intaglios (or Sleeping Giants) as the Colorado River Indian Tribes call them, are enormous geoglyphs etched into the desert floor near Blythe, California, in the Colorado Desert.
They are among the few intact geoglyphs in North America. I found it very mind boggling to think that they date back between 450 and 2,000 years and are still here on the ground. I later read that preservation efforts by the Bureau of Land Management, The National Register of Historic Places, and Colorado River Indian Tribe have worked to protect them.
Located on the west side of the Colorado River, the Blythe Intaglios can be difficult to see from the ground due to their immense size and it was too hot to hike up for a better view on this trip. Also, drones are not permitted.
One of the two Four-Legged Animals
Planning a Visit to the Blythe Intaglios
Location: Western side of the Colorado River, a few miles south of Blythe. The site is accessible via a dirt road off Highway 78.
Best Time to Visit: Cooler months of the year or early mornings/late afternoons.
Permits and Restrictions: No permit needed. Respect the site’s sacredness and leave no trace of your visit.
Entrance
