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View Full Version : Trip Report Trip Report: Horseshoe Canyon


The Dude
02-25-2008, 07:47 AM
My wife and I needed to get out of town, so at the last minute (well, Thursday night), we decided to head down to the southern desert and visit a place I've never been before and Alene had not been since her field trip to Escalante (2001?).

Despite many warnings about the weather from Summit42, we decided to chance it, with a couple of back-up plans with going to Arches, or the other side of Canyonlands, both of which have paved roads running through them.

We left around 8:30am on Saturday and headed straight down to Horseshoe Canyon. We arrived at the main turn-off about noon and headed down the dirt road we were most worried about. Well, we lucked out. No wet weather, the road was actually REALLY dry, except for a couple of parts that were muddy for about 20', but we just gained speed in the subaru, and headed straight through it and out the other side. We were fine.

The hike was AMAZING. We were the only ones in the canyon. This canyon has one of the most oldest and largest gallery's of ancient art petroglyphs. The hike we did went about 1.5 miles down hill into the canyon, then extended another 2 miles to the main Gallery of art. Along the way we were able to see a couple of other areas of art, which were all very impressive. Some of the cool things were the fact that we had the canyon to ourselves. Also, your voice echos like crazy from some spots. The last thing that was cool was Alene bringing to my attention the fact that this is the canyon that Aron Ralston was found (well, he found the people that helped him as he hiked up from his torn arm spot in Blue John canyon).

The weather conditions were PERFECT, not too hot, not too cold. The only mis-hap was as we were leaving. We had already done about 1.5 miles back and were looking at another rock art panel, when we heard a VERY loud roar from the canyon (back where we were). It didn't sound like any sort of a cat or dog, but like a bears roar. Bears don't live out there, so we have no idea what it was. All I know is we picked up the pace and high-tailed it out of there.

After the hike, we drove on back, again lucky it never rained on our road (no rain in the immediate area, but there were plenty of clouds in the distance). We drove back to Green river where we had reserved a hotel room at a Comfort Inn (the finest lodgings in Green River, might I say). We ate a good cheeseburger at Ray's Tavern, then went back to crash and sleep away the hike.

Here are some pictures and videos of the trip:

Starting off on Robbers Roost Road
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0001.jpg

The road in
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0003.jpg

Trailhead
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0013.jpg

Dinosaur print on the way down
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0021.jpg

Looking into Horseshoe Canyon
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0028.jpg

Frozen part of Barrier Creek
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0033.jpg

High Gallery
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0034.jpg

Wind Ripples
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0045.jpg

Bobcat Tracks???
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0046.jpg

Alcove Gallery
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0057.jpg

Looking away from the Alcove Gallery. It's almost a half-dome ampetheater
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0056.jpg

The Great Gallery
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0092.jpg

By the Great Ghost (don't tell the park ranger; we didn't touch anything)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0081.jpg

My wife by the Great ghost
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0080.jpg

Ancient hunters (my favorite picture)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0071.jpg

Leaving the canyon with my "whatever yelled at us will be defended with this" stick
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0101.jpg

The road out (the sun made the surrounding brush turn gold). Temple Mtn. in the background, LH side
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/Horseshoe%20Canyon/IMG_0105.jpg


Great Gallery area Echo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6d9k9mCX04


Dick heads at The Alcove (I thought these were recent, but I read somewhere that they were legitimately from the 1920's during the oil exploration)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpFjqM4FVEk


Doing 60mph on Robbers Roost road (don't worry, we didn't do this the whole way)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvwuvkAFH9s
oldno7
02-25-2008, 08:20 AM
Last time I heard a roar in that canyon I ran around the corner towards the sound and caught a glimpse of a yeti. :nod: :lol8:
But maybe it was Aron Ralston cutting off his other arm :ne_nau:

nice TR
CarpeyBiggs
02-25-2008, 08:31 AM
Sweet write up, thanks! :2thumbs:
Scott Card
02-25-2008, 08:48 AM
Thanks for posting this. Nice to see some folks getting out!
Brewhaha
02-25-2008, 08:59 AM
Well done. I am now experiencing Trip Lust. I feel so dirty.
oldno7
02-25-2008, 10:47 AM
These tracks are from a Mt. Lion. Bobcat tracks are no bigger than a 50 cent piece and that would be a huge one.(quarter more common) I see lion tracks in the canyons alot, next time put your hand next to the track for a size comparison. A lion will roar but it is very seldom heard. That is your likely canidate. :2thumbs:
Jaxx
02-25-2008, 10:52 AM
Yes very nice TR. I reported you to the authorities for crossing the chain link and not just using their top notch binoculars. :haha:

When we did the hike from blue john out horseshoe we didn't run into anyone except right at the river at the base of the climb up to the parking lot. Beautiful canyon.
Jaxx
02-25-2008, 10:53 AM
These tracks are from a Mt. Lion. Bobcat tracks are no bigger than a 50 cent piece and that would be a huge one.(quarter more common) I see lion tracks in the canyons alot, next time put your hand next to the track for a size comparison. A lion will roar but it is very seldom heard. That is your likely canidate. :2thumbs:

SCARY :eek2:
asdf
02-25-2008, 11:23 AM
Despite many warnings about the weather from Summit42

WTF... making me sound like the bad guy :frustrated: ....
Forecast was for 3 inches of snow, I just said was toss some sleeping bags in the car and some extra food/water.
I am sure I am not the only one in this forum to become a victim of muddy roads in southern Utah. :haha:

Nice write up and pics :five: looks like a perfect day.
The Dude
02-25-2008, 11:32 AM
WTF... making me sound like the bad guy :frustrated: ....
Forecast was for 3 inches of snow, I just said was toss some sleeping bags in the car and some extra food/water.
I am sure I am not the only one in this forum to become a victim of muddy roads in southern Utah. :haha:

Nice write up and pics :five: looks like a perfect day.

Dude, not making you look like the bad guy. We heard your advice, we went prepared, and decided to chance it anyway, along with backup plans. We really feel like we lucked out with the perfect weather/conditions.
trackrunner
02-25-2008, 11:34 AM
nice pics and TR :2thumbs:
I need to get out there
asdf
02-25-2008, 11:46 AM
We really feel like we lucked out with the perfect weather/conditions.

man... so perfect.
I am currently suffering from Trip Report envy right now.....
The Dude
02-25-2008, 12:17 PM
These tracks are from a Mt. Lion. Bobcat tracks are no bigger than a 50 cent piece and that would be a huge one.(quarter more common) I see lion tracks in the canyons alot, next time put your hand next to the track for a size comparison. A lion will roar but it is very seldom heard. That is your likely canidate. :2thumbs:

Nice. Good to at least know it could have been a Mt. Lion. In the guestbook at the Great Gallery, the dude that was there the day before us notes "saw possible Mt. Lion tracks behind previous visitors tracks (the day before him), could have possibly been stalked?" It was kind of creepy.

I would guess they were roughly the same size as a large dog's tracks. For a while i thought it was a dogs track, but then there were a few that had deep claw scratches as well.

I'm still getting chills thinking about that roar I heard.
asdf
02-25-2008, 12:47 PM
Fouristhenewone and I saw one while biking at Sundance a few years ago. I was thinking "damn that dog is HUGE!" for the split second it was holding still, once it started running away there was no doubt as to what it was.
Iceaxe
02-25-2008, 12:54 PM
Thanks for the TR....

And last time I heard a roar I ran around the corner and saw Beech. :haha:
sparker1
02-25-2008, 06:47 PM
Enjoyed your TR, thanks for sharing. I agree those appear to be mountain lion prints, although in sand the size is deceptive. I have found what I thought were mountain lion prints several times around Lake Powell, always in sand or dried mud making it hard to judge size of the animal.
accadacca
02-25-2008, 08:13 PM
Sweet TR, Dude. :haha:
happyhiker
02-25-2008, 09:57 PM
Awesome trip! I've been trying to get there myself...hopefully your pictures will help convince my hiking buddy to join me!
Rented mule
02-26-2008, 11:48 PM
Way cool! Nice Tr! Great pictures of some place on my list this spring.
Thanks! Also, great to add a little danger and excitement to the outing; as long as nothing happened. wow!

Heard a ruckus of birds in some hoo-doos down in Nevada one time and such a noise! Birds were dive bombing, carrying on and such! I crept slowly around the corner and saw a huge tarantula on some slickrock.
My presence got the birds to take off and clear out. The spider just sat there, intact, uninjured, and let me get really close to take a picture. I've got it hanging up in the garage.

Were the birds going to eat it? Do spiders eat their eggs or young?
Naturaly enemies? These were small sparrow type or flycatcher birds.

Uhhh....the spider didn't roar, though....hehe good thing, eh?