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Easter Island is a long, pricey trip from Arizona, and most of us will never make it there. The good news is that our own desert has its own collection of giant stone faces, some built by hand and many carved by wind and time.
You can find a Route 66 tiki head in Kingman, a sleeping chief in the Chiricahuas, a bowed figure on Camelback Mountain, and a cartoon beagle napping above Sedona. Keep reading to find seven faces you can visit on a weekend, no passport needed, and see how many you have already driven past.
1. Giganticus Headicus, Kingman, AZ
Route 66 has plenty of odd roadside stops, but only one has a 14-foot head that looks like it came straight from Easter Island. Giganticus Headicus stands by the highway at 9855 AZ-66, east of Kingman, and it is easy to spot from the road.
Local artist Gregg Arnold built the statue in 2004 from cement, chicken wire, and styrofoam. It has a tiki look and a serious face, and it is great for a quick roadside photo.
Old cars are parked around the property, so give yourself a few minutes to look around after you get your picture with the big head.
The gift shop sells Giganticus Headicus t-shirts and Route 66 souvenirs. Its listed hours are 9 AM to 6 PM daily, but it may close early sometimes.
If the doors are shut, you can still visit the statue outside.
2. Easter Island Trail, Prescott, AZ
Prescott didn’t need to build a statue for its Easter Island nod. It named a trail after the island and let the granite do the rest.
The Easter Island Trail is part of the city’s Storm Trails recreation area in the rocky high desert near Prescott. The big rounded boulders look like stone figures, and it doesn’t take much imagination to see faces in them.
The area has easy and harder routes, and some of them follow an old train route. That makes it a good choice for families with kids, and cyclists use it too.
Running water and large rock formations make the scenery more varied than a typical dirt path. Leashed dogs are welcome outside.
Crowds usually show up in the evenings and on weekends. Sunday afternoons and weekday mornings tend to be quieter, so go then if you want the rocks mostly to yourself.
3. Cochise Head
Some stone faces fit in a photo. Cochise Head is so big you see it best from miles away.
This peak in the Chiricahua Mountains of Cochise County looks like a giant face lying on its back. You can make out the forehead, nose, and chin against the skyline.
The mountain is named for Cochise, the Chiricahua Apache leader, which gives it real historical weight in southeastern Arizona. It sits in remote wilderness near Bowie, far from any city.
To see it well, pick a clear day and look toward the ridgeline as you drive in, then watch the profile shift as you move. Late afternoon light brings out the most detail.
Pair it with the next stop on this list, since the two sit in the same mountain range.
4. Sea Captain Rock Formation, Willcox, AZ
A sea captain is an unlikely sight in the middle of the high desert. Still, one watches over Bonita Canyon Drive in Chiricahua country.
The Sea Captain is a natural hoodoo that looks like a weathered sailor’s head. You can see it right from the road as you drive up.
Here is where to look. Drive past the visitor center’s wooded area, then past the Organ Pipe formation, the rock columns that look like organ keys.
The captain shows up after that.
It is an easy stop, and you don’t need to hike a trail to see it. The canyon is quiet and peaceful, so plan to stay a few minutes.
5. The Praying Monk
Plenty of Phoenix residents drive past this one every day without noticing it. Look up at Camelback Mountain and you may spot a figure with its head bowed.
The Praying Monk is a red sandstone outcrop about 30 feet tall on the slopes of Camelback. From the right angle, its outline looks like a hooded head leaning forward in prayer.
What makes it stand out is where it is. Most stone faces on this list are far out in the desert, but this one sits right above the Valley’s neighborhoods.
It is easiest to see from the Paradise Valley side. Once you have spotted it, you will likely keep noticing it every time you pass.
6. Snoopy Rock
Not every famous stone face is ancient or serious. Sedona’s is a cartoon beagle napping on his back.
Snoopy Rock sits on top of a red sandstone formation, and the resemblance to Snoopy lying on his doghouse is surprisingly clear. You can see it from central Sedona.
For a closer view, take Marg’s Draw Trail off Schnebly Hill Road. It starts out easy, then turns into a scramble near the rock, and you get wide views of Sedona from up there.
Climbers of all skill levels come for the rock faces. The trailhead uses a paid parking lot, and weekday mornings can get busy, so plan to arrive early.
7. Skull Rock
Bring a picnic lunch and some friends, and pick a vehicle that can handle rough ground. Skull Rock near Yuma is as much about the ride there as the rock itself.
Wind and weather have worn this desert boulder into the shape of a giant skull. It is the main stop in a popular 4WD area with colorful canyons and plenty of other rock formations.
Many people ride through Queens Canyon to get here and then stop at the skull for lunch. If you would rather walk, there is an out-and-back trail through the canyon to the rock.
Admission is free. This one is best in the cooler months, when the Yuma desert is comfortable for a full day outside.
