Actress Vanessa Hudgens has been ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for illegally defacing a rock in Arizona.

The 27-year-old Gimme Shelter star found herself in big trouble after posting a picture of a carving she had made to mark Valentine's Day (14Feb16) on Instagram.

The romantic gesture, made during a trip to the desert, featured Vanessa and her boyfriend Austin Butler's names in a heart on a red rock.

Under federal law, people are prohibited from "damaging natural surfaces or property of the United States", with punishments including six months behind bars and/or a $5,000 fine.

However, it appears the actress avoided jail time and a larger fine because she was co-operative with authorities throughout the investigation.

The case against her concluded on Friday (13May16) after she agreed to pay a fine of $1,000, according to TMZ.

The money will be handed over to members of a volunteer group called Friends of the Forest, who are planning to restore the rock Hudgens defaced. Her boyfriend Butler was not under investigation for the crime and was not charged with an offense.

Although Hudgens has not spoken publicly about the drama, she previously revealed to America's Marie Claire magazine she is committed to learning from the mistakes she makes in life.

"I am human like everyone else," she noted. "I am aware that there are people who look up to me. When mistakes are made, they aren't intentional, and I constantly push myself to be a better person."