Waypoint to Wild
As far back as 7000-9000 B.C., Paleo-Indians hunted large mammals such as Mastodons and Mammoths across southwest Utah. Later inhabitants included the Desert Archaic culture, the Fremont culture, and Ancestral Pueblo People.
Due to rich Native American history and culture in the area there are plenty of places to find and to be found that include pictographs and petroglyphs. Continue reading “Native American Rock Art”
Sego Canyon is a great adventure the entire family will enjoy. The canyon contains rock art from three different Native American cultures and a very well preserved ghost town. The company store and a boarding house still partially stand in the center of town. There are ruins to many houses scattered through out the canyon along with remnants of the coal mine.
Buckhorn Wash is in the San Rafael Swell in central Utah. The Buckhorn Wash breaks through the Navajo Sandstone and works its way down through towering Sandstone cliffs as you make your way to the San Rafael River. Signs along the drive tell you the names of the different sandstone layers. There are several panels of pictographs and petroglyphs along the road, making the road a delight for sight seers, geologists and anthropologists.
Although officially a detached unit of Canyonlands National Park, the Horseshoe Canyon area could be better described as a little hidden jewel lost in the desert. It’s definitely worth the time it takes to get there. If you already plan on a few days in the Maze, you won’t be disappointed if you spend a half-day of your vacation at Horseshoe Canyon. If you’re going to the Maze from Green River, Horseshoe Canyon is a convenient stop. The Great Gallery is one of four major rock art sites in Horseshoe Canyon, but the fabulous rock art is only part of the attraction. Horseshoe Canyon would be well worth the stop without it. It’s a great day hike in a secluded canyon with majestic cottonwoods shading the sheer sandstone cliffs.
Black Dragon Canyon is very popular with rock art enthusiasts. The panel receives its name from a pictograph, which resembles a flying dragon. Pictographs and petroglyphs are spread out along the base of the high canyon walls. Unfortunately, the site has been seriously damage by inconsiderate visitors. DO NOT outline pictographs with chalk for photographing.