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Labor Day Weekend in The Needles

Saturday – Monday, September 3-5, 2011

Over the Labor Day weekend I decided to head down to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park to revisit some rock art and to find some new panels. I explored a lot of the park in my Jeep and on foot. I drove over Elephant Hill a few times and I ended up camping just outside of the park in Bobbys Hole. I even found the time to take a quick side trip up into Beef Basin. Here are some of my photos from the weekend…

A few black handprints that I came across first along the trail.

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Black Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Driving through the Devils Lane.

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Devils Lane by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A small section of the SOB Hill Panel.

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Feet & Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Many handprints of the SOB Hill Panel.

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SOB Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The full SOB Hill Panel.

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SOB Hill Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A couple more handprints under an overhanging rock.

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Under Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Needles has no shortage of handprints! These are part of the Floyd Panel.

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Framed Handprints by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This was the main panel I was looking for this trip, which I did manage to find. It’s a tough one to get a good photo of, so here’s my attempt at bringing out the pictographs.

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Grabens Panelramic by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at the right side of the panel. Very interesting anthropomorphs.

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Grabens Panel Right by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I got to revisit one of my favorite granaries in Beef Basin and took this shot in black & white.

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Middle Park Granary B&W by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Driving through Ruin Park.

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Ruin Park by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A nice visit to the Peekaboo pictograph panel. The small opening on the left is Trail Arch.

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Peekaboo & Trail Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Peekaboo shields in black & white.

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Peekaboo Shields B&W by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A small white Barrier Canyon Style pictograph.

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Small White BCS by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

White Anasazi pictographs over a very faint Barrier Canyon Style Panel.

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Peekaboo Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Trail Arch and a hoodoo.

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Trail Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Three small anthropomorphs…two of them appear to be orange.

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Two Orange Anthropomorphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A very unique pictograph in the Flying Carpet Panel.

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Cat Man by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

More handprints and a one-armed anthropomorph.

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One Arm by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The amazing Flying Carpet.

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Flying Carpet by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Flying Carpet Panel.

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Flying Carpet Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Here’s an interesting white figure.

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White Eyestalks by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I even managed to find a new boulder with petroglyphs along Indian Creek.

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Roadside Boulder by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at the petroglyphs on the boulder.

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Roadside Boulder Petroglyphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

It was a nice weekend and I managed to find a few new panels, but I didn’t find everything I was looking for…so I’ll be returning again soon!

>> Labor Day Weekend in the Needles Photo Gallery

One Comment

  1. Ed Nuttall
    Ed Nuttall March 29, 2012

    I’m planning a trip to the Needles in August 2012. Yes, I know it’s going to be hot, but when you’re from Vermont your options are limited. I would love to to see the graben panel. I and two friends will be camping near druid arch. How do I get to the panel from there, or is it just too far out of the way? Any suggestions on petroglyphs near Druid Arch?

    PS: I loved your Web Page. Great pictures. You must be a pioneering romantic.

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