5 Places to Find Arrowheads in Arizona

Arizona is a beautiful state, with magnificent outdoor landscapes and a history dating back thousands of years.

Signs and remnants of primitive cultures still remain, if you know where to look.

In this article, I’ll discuss 5 places to find arrowheads in Arizona.

Note: Arrowheads, spear points, and other primitive cultural artifacts and tools are highly regulated and often protected. Always consult with the local, state, and federal laws in your area before looking, and never search on private property without permission. It is illegal to remove arrowheads and artifacts from public land.

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Where to Find Arrowheads in Arizona

Native American activity in Arizona was centered around rivers and lakes, making them prime spots to search for arrowheads. Other areas include canyons, dirt roads, farmlands, and forests. Although collecting from state and federal land is prohibited, you can find and photograph arrowheads there.

Currently, 22 native American tribes live in Arizona. They are distributed across the state, with a history dating back over 12,000 years.

5 Places to Find Arrowheads in Arizona

Lakes, rivers, and other water bodies were critical to the survival of early inhabitants, and looking around these areas would yield the most benefit when collecting arrowheads.

Collecting arrowheads from state and federal land is prohibited. The safest place to collect in Arizona is from private property, with the landowner’s permission.

Below, we’ll investigate 5 of Arizona’s best places to find arrowheads!

Along Rivers

Many of the early inhabitants lived along/close to rivers. Aside from settlements, rivers are drainage routes, and stone points make their way into them through erosion and other natural processes.

According to the Arizona Navigable Stream Adjudication Commission, the Colorado River is the only”navigable” waterway.

All other riverbeds and banks within the state are either federal or private property. Please do not try and collect arrowheads from these other water bodies without getting permission first

In Dried Up Creeks And Riverbeds

These creeks and old river beds are fantastic areas to scout for arrowheads, whether seasonally or permanently dry. Use Google maps to identify old creek beds as a starting point.

If you know where to look, the desert is another great place to find arrowheads. The Safford area has yielded several arrowhead finds. However, you won’t be able to collect/keep these arrowheads.

National And State Parks

Although you’re not allowed to remove artifacts from state and federal land, there is a significant chance that you’ll find arrowheads in these areas. Old creaks, riverbeds, forests, and ruined settlements are the most likely areas for finding arrowheads.

Tribal lands are also rich in arrowheads. Dirt roads through these tribal areas also occasionally dredge up buried artifacts. However, you are not allowed to remove the arrowheads from here.

Some examples of state parks and heritage sites that contain artifacts include:

  • Homolovi State Park
  • Sears-Kay Ruin (Tonto National Forest)
  • Dixie Mine Trail (McDowell Mountain Regional Park) 

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In Farmers’ Fields

When farmers plow their fields, they churn up the soil, exposing any buried “treasure.” Farms surrounding the Colorado River are a good place to start looking.

However, you’ll need to obtain permission to access the fields from the landowner. I highly recommend getting written permission.

Arrowheads collected (with permission) from private land are generally safe to keep, but note where it was collected (photos and coordinates if possible). 

Privately Owned Forests

Roughly 39% of forests in Arizona are privately owned ( according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture). Consult with these private landowners about accessing their property to look for arrowheads.

Many tribes used forests for food and timber, so there’s a chance you’ll find a point or two after a good rain. Closer to natural water bodies is a good place to start. When searching in forests, try to find areas where two or more rivers/creeks converge.

Digging and Collecting Arrowheads in Arizona

According to the Arizona State Legislation, you cannot dig for arrowheads on state and federal land, including national and state parks and the Bureau of Land Management’s land. 

Although there is some confusion, we highly suggest NOT collecting from federal or state land. If you find an arrowhead in these areas, leave it be as you are likely to receive a citation or an arrest if you try to take it.

Collecting arrowheads from private land is allowed; however, you should record your findings and share them with the Arizona State Museum/other local preservation organizations. 

Note: Arrowheads, spear points, and other primitive cultural artifacts and tools are highly regulated and often protected. Always consult with the local, state, and federal laws in your area before looking, and never search on private property without permission. It is illegal to remove arrowheads and artifacts from public land.

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