Fremont Indian State Park & More

[IntrepidXJ]

Friday, February 11, 2011

Since Amanda and I both took off Friday for my birthday so that we could spend some time at Fremont Indian State Park, we got up early and headed west into Utah. On our way there, we made a quick stop along the way to get a few photos of the Tree of Life petroglyph panel.


Tree of Life Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Tree of Life by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

[IntrepidXJ]

February 11 & 12, 2011

After driving to Richfield and checking into our hotel early, we headed straight for Fremont Indian State Park. We ended up spending the rest of the day there until it got dark and then we returned on Saturday for another full day of exploring the park. Instead of boring you with our movements throughout the day, I

[IntrepidXJ]

Black & White Shaman by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The largest anthropomorph figure in Fremont Indian State Park in black & white.


Drought Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This petroglyph panel in Skinner Canyon is located here for a reason. It is thought to tell about the great drought which has been confirmed by tree-rings to have occurred in the 1200s. The lines of dots show the fields of corn that had been planted, but did not come up. The human with his hands in the air is praying for water.


The Spaceman by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This petroglyph that looks like a spaceman along the Parade of Rock Art Trail has been identified as being carved there by Paitues, most likely in the late 1880s.


Hidden Secrets Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A large but faint petroglyph panel at the end of the Hidden Secrets Trail.


Glowing Hunting Scene by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A hunting scene panel located in Skinner Canyon across from Spider Woman Rock. The figures are faint in the direct sunlight, but that same sunlight caused the rock to glow orange.


Hunting Maps by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This petroglyph panel along the Parade of Rock Art is interpreted as being a map. The seven triangles are thought to be the mountains you see on the south horizon. Directions can be determined by the way that the two sheep face. The top one faces the setting sun and the bottom on the rising sun, if they were parallel to the mountains. Above the triangles, the sheep are arranged around a concentric circle. Similar circles are often seen in rock art and are thought to mean water. This corresponds to the features of the area since on the other side of the mountains there is water at Puffer Lake.

[IntrepidXJ]

Square Spirals by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This petroglyph panel along the Rim Trail near Newspaper Rock contains a few square spirals. There’s even a small anthropomorph in the upper right hand corner that is separated from the rest of the panel.


Fremont Twins by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

These two faint figures can be found along the Parade of Rock Art trail near the museum.


Fremont Pithouse

Inside of a replica pithouse that was copied from varying features of the ones found on Five Finger Ridge.


Arch of Art Panel 1 by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The ‘Arch of Art’ contains many petroglyph and pictograph panels that can be spotted from the main viewpoint. The tricky part is actually locating them all. This is one of them. Notice the faint pictographs on the right side.


Arch of Art Panel 2 by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Here’s another panel found on the ‘Arch of Art’. It’s not really an arch, but the formation that houses these panels is arched.


Indian Blanket Pictographs

This blanket pictograph might look small, but it’s actually about 16 feet long and 4 feet tall. The pain was dated as being about 250 years old. There is a legend about this blanket pictograph: Many years ago a group of Indians passed through Clear Creek Canyon on the way to their winter camping area. While in the canyon the new baby of a young Indian girl died and was buried near the site of the blanket pictograph. During the winter the mother could not get the thought of her baby being alone in the winter cold out of her mind. The next spring she made preparations and returned to paint the blanket for her lost baby to use in the future cold winters. (The source of this legend is residents of the local towns near the park, not the Paiutes)


Panel 96 by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Just another photo of the largest anthropomorph in the park, and one of my favorite petroglyphs I came across while exploring the park.


Rock Art Jail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I’m all for protecting rock art, but this is a bit extreme for me…

[IntrepidXJ]

Connected Spirals by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We spotted this petroglyph panel when we first arrived at the park as it was easily visible from the road. We returned later to photograph it in the late afternoon sunlight.


Spiral Anthropomorph by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We didn’t find these two good-sized petroglyphs near Radford’s Roost until our second day, even though they were near the road.


Sheep, Elk & Dots by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We found this panel when were were exploring the Canyon of Life.


Clear Creek Canyon Petroglyphs 2 by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Another of the larger petroglyph panels located along the Rim Trail between the large anthropomorph and Newspaper Rock.


Arch of Art Boulder by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A large boulder near the Arch of Art that has a few petroglyphs on it.


Top of Hunting Maps by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at the top of the Hunting Maps panel along the Parade of Rock Art trail.

[IntrepidXJ]

Sunday, February 13, 2011


Headless Elk Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Fish Creek Cove

After spending almost two full days at Fremont Indian State Park it was time to start heading home. Instead of taking I-70 all the way home like we had taken there, we headed west towards Boulder Mountain and Capitol Reef so that we could make a few more stops. Our first stop was Fish Creek Cove to check out the Headless Elk Pictograph Panel and other pictographs and petroglyphs.


Parade of Headless Elk by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at the headless elk pictographs.


One-and-a-Half by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

One and a half Fremont anthropomorphic pictographs.


Fish Creek Cove Pictographs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A few more pictographs located next to The Headless Elk Panel.


Two Headless Elk by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A close-up of two of the headless elk.


Shaded Pictoglyph by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After searching the alcove in Fish Creek Cove for more pictographs and petroglyphs I found this ‘pictoglyph’ in the shade of a tree. I kind of like the effect of the shaded and sunny areas in this photo.


Headless Elk Watcher by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This small anthropomorph floats above the rest of the Headless Elk Panel


Anthropomorph in Stripes by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A fading anthropomorph on a striped wall.


Two-Tone by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A two-toned ‘shield-like’ figure

[IntrepidXJ]

Fremont River Gorge Petroglyphs

After leaving Fish Creek Cove we continued on our way home, but we made one last stop at the petroglyphs in Capitol Reef National Park.


Capitol Reef Anthropomorphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Fremont Anthropomorphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Capitol Reef Sheep by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Many Fremont Sheep by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After leaving Capitol Reef we stopped for a burger at Ray

[oldno7]

Exceptional again Randy

[Iceaxe]

I was there about 10 years ago... I sure don't remember seeing all that. Guess I need to make a return visit.

[uintahiker]

I stopped by there last month and came away with a mixed opinion. All of the rock art is pretty sweet. The museum was sorely lacking in exhibits. I do wish that the maps available for Fremont Indian State Park were better.

[chromehead58]

can you tell me where the tree of life in the swell is located?

[accadacca]

Great report! I don't know how I missed this one. Your all over the place dood. Your becoming the petroglyph guy.