Page, Ariz. • Visitors to a national recreation area straddling the Arizona-Utah border are being asked to stay away from a rock art site that features sheep carved thousands of years ago.

The Descending Sheep Petroglyph Panel is along the Colorado River between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. It falls within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The recreation area is instituting a voluntary closure in January and February so that it can educate people about the rock art believed to be between 3,000 and 6,000 years old. Officials said they also want to protect it from vandalism and respect Native American beliefs tied to the site.

A voluntary closure means people are asked to keep away from the site but won't be fined or given a citation if they go near the rock art.

The restrooms at the site will remain open.