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.
Black Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Driving through the Devils Lane.
Devils Lane by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A small section of the SOB Hill Panel.
Feet & Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Many handprints of the SOB Hill Panel.
SOB Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The full SOB Hill Panel.
SOB Hill Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A couple more handprints under an overhanging rock.
Under Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Needles has no shortage of handprints! These are part of the Floyd Panel.
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.
Grabens Panelramic by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A closer look at the right side of the panel. Very interesting anthropomorphs.
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.
Middle Park Granary B&W by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Driving through Ruin Park.
Ruin Park by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A nice visit to the Peekaboo pictograph panel. The small opening on the left is Trail Arch.
Peekaboo & Trail Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Peekaboo shields in black & white.
Peekaboo Shields B&W by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A small white Barrier Canyon Style pictograph.
Small White BCS by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
White Anasazi pictographs over a very faint Barrier Canyon Style Panel.
Peekaboo Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Trail Arch and a hoodoo.
Trail Arch by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Three small anthropomorphs…two of them appear to be orange.
Two Orange Anthropomorphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A very unique pictograph in the Flying Carpet Panel.
Cat Man by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
More handprints and a one-armed anthropomorph.
One Arm by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The amazing Flying Carpet.
Flying Carpet by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Flying Carpet Panel.
Flying Carpet Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Here’s an interesting white figure.
White Eyestalks by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I even managed to find a new boulder with petroglyphs along Indian Creek.
Roadside Boulder by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A closer look at the petroglyphs on the boulder.
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!
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.