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View Full Version : Trip Report Shavano Valley Petroglyph Park



IntrepidXJ
07-01-2012, 03:10 PM
Saturday, June 23, 2012

The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO (http://adventr.co/2012/06/shavano-valley-petroglyph-park)


On Saturday I was invited by my friend Greg to visit the Shavano Valley Petroglyph Park near Montrose. I've been wanting to visit this site for quite a while, but never got around to getting permission to go, so I jumped at the opportunity. Amanda and I planned to head back up into the San Juan Mountains again this weekend, so it worked out perfectly since we would be driving through Montrose on our way. We left Grand Junction very early so we could meet Greg at the park around sunrise. We ended up spending a few hours searching the cliff faces for petroglyphs and taking photos. Here are a few photos of the petroglyphs...


Our favorite petroglyphs at the site were at the Bear Dance Panel.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5235/7437045036_b389a9a00d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7437045036/)
Ute Bear Dance (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7437045036/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


A closer look at the bear climbing a tree petroglyph. Very unique and cool!


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7457603386_b3c05d5e2c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457603386/)
Bear in a Tree (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457603386/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


This was another large panel of petroglyphs next to the Bear Dance Panel.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7136/7444319042_a813575858_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7444319042/)
Big Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7444319042/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


There were a few petroglyphs of footprints in the area.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7457375944_4ecbc40ed3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457375944/)
Feet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457375944/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


A faded panel with what appears to be a handprint petroglyph with six fingers.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7457411376_f33737a416_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457411376/)
Faded (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457411376/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


This interesting panel was sheltered under an overhang. A nice setting for some petroglyphs.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7451669514_a7960c31ac_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7451669514/)
Sheltered Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7451669514/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


These petroglyphs were found high above another large panel.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7451959432_cbd411294d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7451959432/)
Up High (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7451959432/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


There were also a few historic inscriptions found here. These were the two oldest ones I saw.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7457555508_70f6ff7bca_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457555508/)
Edwin Gravestock (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457555508/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7457529314_964f873546_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457529314/)
Joe Harrison (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7457529314/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Here's another look at a bear petroglyph from the Bear Panel.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5197/7437159928_4576f16ccc_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7437159928/)
Bear Without a Tree (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7437159928/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


This panel was also located right next to the Bear Dance petroglyphs.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8156/7451448448_ab9f01fe66_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7451448448/)
Prints (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7451448448/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


These two petroglyphs were found alone away from the other large panels.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/7444274792_de929bfcc2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7444274792/)
Shavano High Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7444274792/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Before we left the park and headed up into the mountains, we stopped at this horse petroglyph hidden among some lichen covered rocks.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7437204842_5a3a7763a4_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7437204842/)
Shavano Horse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7437204842/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


We had a nice morning photographing the petroglyphs before it started to get hot out!


>> Shavano Valley Petroglyph Park Photo Gallery (http://flic.kr/s/aHsjAbW8hd)