Press "Enter" to skip to content

Cedar Mesa Chronicles: Chapter 7

Veterans Day Weekend | Thursday – Sunday, November 10-13, 2022

This year for the extended Veterans Day Weekend I was feeling the pull of the ancients to return to the canyons of Cedar Mesa. Even though I seem to have been neglecting this area for a while now, I decided it was time to follow. As usual, I left from work on Thursday afternoon, drove through Moab and then headed south across Dry Valley to Monticello and Blanding. From there, I made my way west through the Comb Ridge and then up onto Cedar Mesa where I found a spot to camp along the old Emigrant Trail. After a good night of sleep I spent the rest of the weekend exploring a couple of canyons on Cedar Mesa and even made a foray into Lower White Canyon, too. Here are some photos from the weekend!

 

From the Canyons of Cedar Mesa

Waking up early on Friday morning below Moss Back Butte at dawn.

Moss Back Morning

Moss Back Butte

Moss Back Butte

Thanks to a cold front that came through the area during the middle of the week, it was a bit cold on Cedar Mesa all weekend.

Frozen

There was plenty of water in the canyons an on top of the mesa, most of it covered with a thin sheet of ice in the mornings.

Big Potholes

Square Room Ruin

Square Room Ruin II

Petroglyph Boulder

Petroglyph Boulder

Little Attic Ruin

Little Attic Ruin

An assortment of potsherds.

Potsherds

Sideways Guy Alcove

Sideways Guy Alcove

A closer look at the Sideways Guy pictograph.

Sideways Guy

Cedar Mesa Stripes

Cedar Mesa Stripes

Overhang Ruin

Overhang Ruin

Colorful pictographs on the ceiling of a low overhang.

Colorful Pictographs

Square Room Ruin

Square Room Ruin

Circle & Sheep

Circle & Sheep

Defensive Wall

Defensive Wall

Lower Boulder Petroglyphs

Lower Boulder Petroglyphs

Sticks and stones illuminated by the last light of the day.

Sticks & Stones

Cracking Ruin

Cracking Ruin

Little Attic Ruin

Little Attic Ruin II

Ruin & Glow

Ruin & Glow

 

Wandering Lower White Canyon

On my way to Lower White Canyon I stopped at an overlook of Fry Canyon.

Fry Canyon

It was a lovely morning to wander through White Canyon.

White Canyon Morning

White Canyon View

Ducket Arch

Ducket Arch

Big Arrowhead Arch

Big Arrowhead Arch

Lovely canyon stripes.

Canyon Stripes

Canyon Junction

Canyon Junction

I went for a short hike into the beautiful Short Canyon until I was stopped by a water-filled slot.

Short Canyon View

Short Canyon

Short Canyon Bend

Water-Filled Slot Canyon

Water-Filled Slot Canyon

Can you spot the ruin in this wall?

Wall & Ruin

White Canyon Wandering

White Canyon

Canyon Palette

Canyon Palette

Here are a couple petroglyphs I found along the way.

Canyon Stripes Panel

Faint Petroglyphs

Hands Up Panel

Outline Sheep

Spiral Toss

On my way back to Cedar Mesa I took a short detour to visit the Arch of the Sun.

Arch of the Sun

 

Sunday Sunrise from the Edge of Cedar Mesa

On Sunday morning I drove out to an overlook at the edge of Cedar Mesa and watched a colorful sunrise before heading back home. It was a nice weekend on Cedar Mesa and it felt good to be hiking here again!

Morning Colors

Edge of Cedar Mesa

Cedar Mesa Sunrise

Edge of the Mesa

Ruins On the Edge

Ledge & Ruins

First Light & Ruins

>> Cedar Mesa Chronicles 7 Photo Gallery

Leave a Reply