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The Twists and Turns of Salt Creek Canyon

Canyonlands National Park | Thursday – Monday, April 4-8, 2024

After a rugged hike around Navajo Mountain last year, Dave, Jared and I decided to return to a very familiar place in Canyonlands National Park for our annual spring backpacking trip this year as we started making plans to continue exploring the twists and turns of Salt Creek Canyon a few months ago. Although we have all hiked into Salt Creek many times over the years, I hadn’t been back to the middle section of the canyon since our first hike down the length of the canyon just about ten years ago, and I was looking forward to returning! I left from work on Thursday afternoon and made my way to Indian Creek Country for the evening where I found a campsite and watched a colorful sunset on the surrounding cliffs while waiting for Dave and Jared to arrive. They arrived well after dark and we caught up for a little while before getting into our sleeping bags for the night.

Hatch Point Sunset

Hatch Point Sunset

Harts Point Sunset

Harts Point Sunset

On Friday morning we were up with the sunrise and made sure our packs were ready for the next couple of days in Salt Creek before we headed over to the Backcountry Desk at the Needles Visitor Center to pick up our permit. Then it was off to the gate near Cave Spring to start our hike. It was a little surprising to find no other vehicles at the trailhead this morning since this is usually a popular backpacking trip at this time of the year.

Many great trips have started and ended at this gate over the years.

Salt Creek Gate

Although we spent most of the day just taking our time hiking to our intended campsite, we did stop to revisit a couple familiar places along the way.

Peekaboo Pictographs

Corner Panel

Corner Panel II

Jared even spotted a small pictograph panel none of us had noticed before.

Three Fingers & Toes

It was very windy out with strong gusts occasionally blowing sand into our faces and the sky was darkened with dust as we hiked deeper into the canyon.

Island Arch

Dust in the Air

Crescent Arch

Eventually we made it to our campsite near the mouth of Angel Arch Canyon and set up our tents. With the strong winds and dead cottonwood trees we had to be mindful about where we placed our tents, just in case. This used to be a much nicer camp before it burned sometime after our trip in 2014, but it would do.

Angel Arch Camp

I revisited this panel above our campsite later in the evening after eating dinner.

White Bird Panel

Thankfully, the winds started to subside and the sky started to turn blue again before sunset. There would be occasional gusts of winds throughout the rest of the night, but many of them would miss hitting our tents.

Blueish Sky

Salt Creek Evening

Salt Creek Evening

Evening Light at Camp

Evening Light at Camp

After a good night of sleep, we ate breakfast and headed up Angel Arch Canyon to revisit Angel Arch in the early morning light, which is something I’ve been looking forward to doing again.

Angel Arch

A view from the upper end of Angel Arch Canyon.

Upper Angel Arch Canyon

Below Angel Arch

Below Angel Arch

Molar Rock & Angel Arch

Molar Rock & Angel Arch

After spending a while watching the clouds come and go behind Angel Arch, we headed back down canyon and then spent the next two days searching for ruins and rock art.

Although it wasn’t quite as windy on Saturday, it was a bit colder out, especially when the clouds blocked out the sun. There were also on and off graupel storms throughout the day with sunny conditions in-between. We were either too hot or too cold.

Another Graupel Storm

A canyon view between the graupel storms.

Canyon View

Caught in another graupel storm.

Graupel Storm

Here’s a short video of a graupel storm while the sun was out.

A view through the graupel…

Through the Graupel

When we returned to camp on Saturday evening I climbed up onto the ledges after dinner to stay in the sunlight for as long as I could since the temperature had dropped significantly!

Angel Arch Canyon Evening

Evening Wall

Staying Warm Above Camp

After two full days exploring the canyon we packed up camp on Monday and started our hike out.

Last Camp Morning

Salt Creek Arch and some interesting clouds.

Salt Creek Arch & Clouds

It was a beautiful morning as we hiked out.

Canyon View

Canyon Tower

Canyon View

 

Rock Art & Ruins of Salt Creek Canyon

Hidden Red Panel

Hidden Red Panel Middle

Little Ledge Ruin

Little Ledge Ruin

In-Ground Storage

In-Ground Storage

A reverse handprint and faint white bird. There seem to be a lot of birds in this part of the canyon.

Faint White Bird

This faint hunter with a bow and arrow was just off to the right of the previous faint bird.

Faint Hunter

Long Zigzag

Long Zigzag

I’m guessing the slab of rock this granary was built on has moved and shifted since it was originally constructed.

Tilted Rock Granary

Half Roof

Half Roof

White Pictographs

White Pictographs

Two rooms under an alcove with graupel coming down in the background.

Two Rooms in a Storm

Here’s a closer look at the round structure.

Round Room

I liked the green colored paint used in this pictograph.

Green Paint

Perched Granary

Perched Granary

Interesting white pictographs high on a point.

Point White Pictographs

Open Arms Panel

Open Arms Panel

The figure on the right is about four feet tall.

Open Arms Panel II

Faded Hands & Dots

Faded Hands & Dots

Little Ledge Granary

Little Ledge Granary

Collapsed Kiva

Collapsed Kiva

For some reason I decided to explore a narrow tunnel in the back of an alcove.

Hidden Passage

Surprisingly, there were two granaries hidden in the darkness above the opening inside.

Hidden Granaries

Potsherds

Potsherds

I walked right over this arrowhead without noticing it, so thankfully Jared spotted it.

Arrowhead

Arrowhead

High Ledge Pictographs

High Ledge Pictographs

Right Side

Left Side

This small granary is located in a very lovely alcove.

Little Granary

Little Granary Alcove

 

Solar Eclipse | Monday, April 8, 2024

After leaving The Needles and starting my drive back home, I pulled off the highway before reaching Moab at the southern end of Spanish Valley so I could watch and photograph today’s Solar Eclipse at its maximum, which was about 58% coverage at this location. Although I had an amazing experience watching the Great American Eclipse in 2017, I really had no desire to head east to see this one, so this view would have to do. If I’m lucky enough to still be around for the next eclipse in 2045, I won’t have to travel far since it will be coming right over our house!

Solar Eclipse, April 8 2024

 

>> The Twists and Turns of Salt Creek Photo Gallery

4 Comments

  1. Janice
    Janice April 12, 2024

    After being in Salt Creek exactly one year ago, it’s especially thrilling to see your wonderful photos of the scenery, pictographs, and remains. What a special place this is!
    And it will be so exciting to have totality over your own home in 2045. No traffic! Let’s hope and assume you’ll be right there to see it. 🙂

  2. Michelle Dickson
    Michelle Dickson April 17, 2024

    Always love your trip reports, thank you!

  3. ajmortellaro
    ajmortellaro May 7, 2024

    Awesome post! I saw the “high ledge” pictographs during a visit last year, which I had previously not known about. Definitely a highlight and an amazing scene above those structures.

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