Saturday & Sunday, December 9-10, 2023
Diane hasn’t been able to join me on a weekend trip for a little while now, so when she got her schedule a few months back and saw that she had this weekend off we made plans to spend some time in one of our favorite places that for some reason we had not been back to in quite a while. It’s hard for me to believe, but it’s been over five years (has it really been that long!?) since the last time Diane and I spent any time exploring Nine Mile Canyon together and we were definitely overdue for a return visit! We left home early on Saturday morning, drove to Wellington and then spent the remainder of the weekend searching for Rock Art in and around the canyon. We revisited some sites we have been to before, but we also found plenty of new stuff along the way, too. Here are some photos of what we saw this weekend…
It’s been so long since our last visit to Nine Mile Canyon, so we briefly stopped at the First Site on the way in. The light wasn’t good and it felt very cold in the shade while we were here.
Leading A Horse
These are some interesting historic petroglyphs. I’m not really sure what to make of them?
Small Slot Pictographs
The antlers on the stick-figure on the right are very interesting.
Corner Panel
Narrow Panel
Roadside Petroglyphs
Although we didn’t do any serious hiking this weekend, we did wander up a side canyon or two…
B. Company 6th Infantry 2.9.1886
Gate Canyon
We saw a ton of historic inscriptions painted in axle grease, but this was the only one I felt compelled to take a photo of this weekend.
This nice petroglyph panel was probably my favorite find of the weekend.
Big Sheep & Pictographs
Sheep Cove
Crane Panel
Although the temperature on Sunday morning was a bit warmer than on Saturday, it felt much colder out since there was a strong freezing wind.
Of course, we had to stop to revisit the Owl Panel as we drove by. It’s a little weird that there is now a sign pointing out the location.
Sunday morning in Nine Mile Canyon.
Faint petroglyphs on two separate walls that Diane spotted.
Crazy Tail Sheep
Point Petroglyphs
3D Panel
Granary
Big Centipede Panel
High Guy
From the Shadows
White Pictographs
If you look closely, you can see the large white figure has a yellow outline with arms.
Petroglyph Panel
Unusual Petroglyph
Rainbow Connection
The Hunter
Little Elk Panel
Here’s an interesting panel that Diane spotted.
Rock of Dots
Coyote Placing the Stars
The canyon road has changed a lot since I was there over 15 years ago……….now paved and even signage to some of the sites. Each time we go, we see something new. Did you see the buffalo?
Yep, I preferred when the road was unpaved. Do you remember when the road went right under the Great Hunt Panel?
Which Buffalo? I have seen many, but I assume you are referring to the Big Buffalo or Pregnant Buffalo? We didn’t make it all the way to Cottonwood Canyon this trip, but I’ve been to those sites a number of times before.
As always, thanks for sharing. This canyon is on our list, I can’t wait to check it out!
Simply amazing. Thank you for sharing your adventure and your photos.