Press "Enter" to skip to content

The Needles & Indian Creek

Sunday, May 6, 2012

After a nice night sleeping along Indian Creek, I was awake again the break of dawn and having some breakfast. I packed up camp and then headed back into The Needles for another day of exploring. I was soon driving the rough road over Elephant Hill into the heart of the Needles. I ended up doing a little hiking and searching for some new rock art sites as I explored this beautiful area once again.

Driving through Elephant Canyon after crossing over Elephant Hill.

7199895752_b07c0d6428_z.jpg
Elephant Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Squeezing my Jeep through this tight section into Devil’s Pocket.

7251929838_28fa68943a_z.jpg
Devil’s Pocket by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Interesting black handprints along the road.

7212188136_04bb841c88_z.jpg
Black Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Great view in Devil’s Lane.

7150936427_5a3793a848_z.jpg
Devil’s Lane by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I finally managed to find The Headdress Site that I have looked for in the past with no success. As is common in these parts, there were a lot of handprints here.

7252956970_46c2fe6b2b_z.jpg
In the Corner by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at some of the handprints with a small anthropomorphic figure in the middle.

7213133254_9296a37700_z.jpg
Ceiling Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

7252638934_2a1021576b_z.jpg
Above by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

These figures appear to be wearing very large headdresses, which is where the site derives it’s name.

7252664196_1d6063ef23_z.jpg
Hands & Headdress by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A few more of the smaller pictographs found at this site.

7252731250_b96b064366_z.jpg
Celebration by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Since I was driving right by them, I just had to stop at the pictographs near SOB Hill again.

7150893683_a4cc16680c_z.jpg
Hands & Feet II by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

No shortage of handprints…

7004822280_eec1ccd2d1_z.jpg
Devil’s Lane Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Another new Barrier Canyon Style anthropomorph I found. I have been past this area many times before and was surprised I had missed it!

7252613370_3a8410afe7_z.jpg
Lone BCS by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I stopped at one more site before leaving the park. This was also a new one to me, and contained some interesting petroglyphs and a few painted designs.

7199941968_28453a9727_z.jpg
Petroglyphs & Pictographs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Here’s a look at the petroglyphs found here.

7252315942_e61763ed4b_z.jpg
Lower Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

7252590910_30811b9a66_z.jpg
Designs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After leaving The Needles I headed over to Indian Creek via the Lockhart Basin Road to look for another rock art panel and a small ruin. It took a little searching, but I did manage to find what I was looking for.

First up, I found this nice pictograph panel. It sure reminds me of the one found at Peekaboo Spring along Salt Creek because of all the white dots.

7213135014_d219feb478_z.jpg
White Dot Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at part of the panel.

7151176317_b2e70b3ca7_z.jpg
Dots & Hands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Then I managed to find the ruin I was looking for. I can’t believe I missed this one in the past. I have driven right by it a few times before. It does blend in well.

7252226820_547f2cf3a7_z.jpg
Spot the Ruin? by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I did try to find a way to get closer to this ruin, but found no way up to it.

7252273140_3ff8caacce_z.jpg
Indian Creek Ruin by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Every time I have driven by these falls on a nice warm day there always seems to be people here, so I usually just pass it by. Today there was no one around, so I stopped to cool off and take a few photos before starting my drive back home.

7199986346_b1ba9ac110_z.jpg
Indian Creek Falls by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

It seems that I can’t drive along the road through Indian Creek Canyon without spotting some new petroglyphs along the way. Today was no exception as I spotted these faint Basketmaker anthropomorphs above the road.

7252161762_242c5172ac_z.jpg
Faded Basketmaker Petroglyphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

>> The Needles & Indian Creek Photo Gallery

One Comment

  1. GARY HUMMEL
    GARY HUMMEL November 1, 2013

    great pics,thank you

Leave a Reply