Saturday & Sunday, April 27-28, 2024
This weekend Diane and I headed down to the edges of Bears Ears National Monument so we could hike and search for rock art and ruins in some of the canyons along the borderlands of the monument. We were originally planning to leave after work on Friday, but rain was predicted for the area overnight and into the early morning, so instead we decided to leave early on Saturday morning and timed it so we would arrive after the weather was supposed to be over leaving cooler temperatures and partly cloudy skies behind. Our timing worked out perfectly! Although we would see a lot of interesting and unusual rock art this weekend, much of it was hard to see and photograph, so I’ll just share some of the better photos below.
Long Snake Panel
This was the first of many interesting, but hard-to-see petroglyph panels we would come across this weekend.
Big Horse and the Horned Serpent
This is such a large and unusual petroglyph panel!
Daymare
Snake & Dots
Angled Ledge Petroglyphs
Shallow Alcove Handprints
Spiral Wall
Corner Panel
Remaining Wall
While exploring a short side canyon we stumbled upon this large arch.
Below the Arch
High Petroglyphs
There were a lot of Moki Steps carved into this canyon wall.
It was a nice day for hiking in the canyons, albeit a humid one from the recent storm.
Wall Ruin
Alcove Hands
Yellow Handprints
In a part of the canyon we found some very large claret cup cacti in bloom. This was the largest one.
Lone Petroglyph
Our home away from home for the night.
After getting camp set up on Saturday evening it started to rain and then this rainbow made an appearance.
Montezuma’s Gold at the end of the rainbow.
Morning in Montezuma Canyon
Two Horses
Celebration Panel
Designs & Tracks
High Design
Glen Canyon Style
A small petroglyph panel.
Exploring the canyons…
Large Boulder Petroglyphs
Boulder Petroglyphs
Fantastic! Thank you!
WOW. Thanks for sharing all the amazing petroglyphs.