Exploring Indian Creek & More...

[IntrepidXJ]

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Newspaper Rock Petroglyphs

Early Saturday morning I set off for Indian Creek to explore and find some new rock art. My first stop of the day was, of course, Newspaper Rock, so that I could practice and play with my new 100-400mm lens :D Here

[IntrepidXJ]

Shay Canyon Petroglyphs

After taking some photos at Newspaper Rock, I headed over to Shay Canyon. This was my first visit to this canyon, and I knew there should be a lot of petroglyphs here. I was not disappointed! I spent a while here walking along the canyon wall searching for and photographing the many petroglyphs found here.

Most of the time I was in Shay Canyon the skies were overcast, but right before I was ready to hike back to the Jeep the clouds cleared a little and the sunlight reflected off the canyon walls. I snapped these two photos when that happened.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5428144116_9d999627d1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5428144116/)
Look Up in Shay Canyon (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5428144116/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5428144546_11ec9063b6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5428144546/)
Shay Canyon Petroglyph Panels (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5428144546/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

One of the larger petroglyph panels.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5429784330_4e3f0435c6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429784330/)
Shay Canyon Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429784330/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

This panel was located high above next to a crack in the canyon wall.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5429784868_b2b231430a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429784868/)
Shay Canyon Crack Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429784868/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

This is the another of the so-called ‘mastodon’ petroglyphs in the area (another being the Moab Mastodon). To me it looks just like another bear…

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5429303325_44543fd934.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429303325/)
Indian Creek Mastodon (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429303325/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5429179691_6ebcf6bbae.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429179691/)
Shay Canyon Mastodon (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429179691/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

The lower petroglyph in the following photo kind of looks like a smiling face to me…

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5429785892_d151bb7ae5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429785892/)
Smiling Face (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429785892/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

The hunter with the bow and arrow appears to be shooting at a four-legged animal and three round targets in this scene.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5429301535_ec3584417b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429301535/)
Target Practice (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429301535/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

[IntrepidXJ]

There are many petroglyphs of flute players here; this panel has the most in one place. It even appears a bighorn is dancing to the music.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5429301903_9c9ff1b6a3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429301903/)
It's a Party! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429301903/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5015/5429304091_1fd813a221.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429304091/)
Flute Players (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429304091/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5429302241_9d3d0dd25c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429302241/)
Shay Canyon Corner Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429302241/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

This guy was all by himself…

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5429302733_2258a86b8f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429302733/)
Lone Man (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429302733/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5429303691_b6f8dea71d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429303691/)
Shay Canyon Panel 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429303691/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5429911690_119fe99e04.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429911690/)
Shay Canyon Panel 3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429911690/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

I called this one the Teardrop Panel because the shape of the canyon wall here resembles a tear drop.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5429912144_af76f3b170.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429912144/)
Teardrop Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429912144/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5429320821_11ed121407.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429320821/)
Shay Canyon Panels 4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5429320821/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

[IntrepidXJ]

Indian Creek Canyon Petroglyphs

After leaving Shay Canyon I continued on down Indian Creek Canyon to find some more petroglyphs.

I started out at this large panel just above the highway. This is a cool panel as it spans two sections of the canyon wall which is separated by a large gap. Inside that gap there are even more petroglyphs!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5432517722_607461b384.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432517722/)
Full Indian Creek Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432517722/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A close-up of the panel with the crescent moons.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5431909165_5b00bf0177.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5431909165/)
Crescent Moon Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5431909165/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

One of the more interesting figures on this panel.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5430362323_bc20d73361.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5430362323/)
Big Feet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5430362323/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Next to the panels above are some very cool petroglyphs, however they are very hard to see and even harder to photograph! Here’s the best shots I was able to get when I was there…

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5432517340_8084a6e065.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432517340/)
Scorpion & Snakes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432517340/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/5432518030_30f2a02c38.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432518030/)
Long Snakes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432518030/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5431909693_8c5a877f38.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5431909693/)
Centipede & Circles (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5431909693/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

After checking out these panels, I hiked up the short side canyon looking for more rock art. I managed to find just a few more…

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5431910003_7c92d9c92b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5431910003/)
Indian Creek Petroglyphs 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5431910003/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5432516144_ae9879ff58.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432516144/)
Indian Creek Petroglyphs (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432516144/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5432515576_2651a34a66.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432515576/)
Indian Creek Anthropomorph (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5432515576/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

[IntrepidXJ]

Canyonlands: Needles District & Lockhart Road

After finishing up in Indian Creek Canyon I continued on down the highway to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Since all of the 4

[Bad Karma]

:hail2thechief::hail2thechief: Love the pics. Sounds like an awesome trip!

[oldno7]

Nice TR Randy

[Scott P]

[QUOTE]
Since all of the 4

[IntrepidXJ]

Why are they all closed? It looks pretty dry down there?

Salt Creek/Horse Canyons haven't been open since they were washed out last summer. The ranger said they are not planning on repairing them until May/June. I'm pretty sure Lavender has been closed since then as well. I didn't ask about Elephant Hill, but when I drove by there the gate was closed and locked.

Their website makes it sound like they close the roads for the winter usually?

[Deadeye008]

Great TR and pics!:clap:

[oldno7]

Salt Creek/Horse Canyons haven't been open since they were washed out last summer. The ranger said they are not planning on repairing them until May/June. I'm pretty sure Lavender has been closed since then as well. I didn't ask about Elephant Hill, but when I drove by there the gate was closed and locked.

Their website makes it sound like they close the roads for the winter usually?

Elephant hill was open the end of Dec.

[Philippe]

Nice and interesting pictures, Randy. Thanks for sharing.

Philippe