South Fork Indian Canyon (with stops along the way to Moccasin Mountain Track Site)

[wnorton]

12 of us took of yesterday to explore the 185 year old dinosaur tracks of Moccasin Mountain, the Pictographs in the alcove of Indian Canyon (South Fork) and the Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon and it's pre-historic moqui steps (Staircase of the Ancients).

We had a great day, the sand was DEEP (deeper and looser than I have ever seen it, evidence of the dry weather we have been having).

Here are a few pics.

[blueeyes]

You are having entirely too much fun! Love the pictures, making me jealous.

[Sombeech]

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun!

[accadacca]

Awesome.

[Mtnseeker1]

[Glenn]

Question for Wade:

I tried to visit SFIC pictographs last week (May 13), but couldn't drive past the Sand Springs primitive camping area; the road was marked with signage stating no motorized vehicles, so I didn't proceed any further (this is the road to the left of the trail that leads up to the sand dunes).

How did you get to the site from there? I'm really disappointed that I didn't get to see them, but I did manage to make it out to the Wahweap Hoodoos later that day.

[weendii]

The visitor center in Kanab gave me printed directions in April. It's not that hard to find, except it's deep sand, I had it in 4wd low range, which i don't use very often.

[Glenn]

@weendii: I tried to use the beta provided by Bo & Tanya (http://www.zionnational-park.com/moquith-mountain.htm) and noted that the large kiosk at the start of Sand Springs road off Hancock shows the road continuing south past the primitive campsite and then back northeast toward the edge of the canyon. It even has a hiking icon near the pictograph location.

BUT, as I noted above, the road is marked with "no motorized vehicles" signage at the edge of the primitive camping area, so I didn't drive on it. I'm wondering if you and Wade's group continued driving on that road to the hiking trailhead.

If I'd known in advance it was off limits, I might have considered hiking the 1.7 miles along the rim of the canyon to get there, but I spent way too much time trying to figure out what, if anything, I'd done wrong. I even drove on a couple of other spur roads to no avail.

Yes, it was quite sandy out there; the wash just north of the campsite was very tricky for my AWD rental.

[wnorton]

Glenn,

I've never seen postings indicating no vehicles. It is very deep sand, I wonder if the close the road at certain times? The trailhead appears to be very well used, so I wouldn't expect it to be closed to traffic.

Wade

[wnorton]

Once on Sand Springs Road, it has a well marked sign indicating "petroglyphs" with an arrow to the left. If you keep going strait you reach the trailhead for Hell Dive. Hell Dive is another good pictograph alcove, but it's a much further hike.

[Glenn]

Thanks for the feedback, Wade. I guess it's my mistake. I'll have to give it another try next year (heading to Bryce/Canyonlands in November).

[weendii]

Glenn, What i remember was coming down a sort of steep hill and having it open out a bit. It was a little confusing at this point, but i headed off a little to the left down a road that was not that obvious. It's really narrow and sandy, but you could walk it from there. There was another road that bears straight that is not the way. I did not see any road closed signs. Good luck.