Saturday & Sunday, December 14-15, 2024
Well, it’s that time of the year when the crowds have finally started to thin and I am ready to begin spending more time exploring the lands surrounding Moab until they start to return again later in February. This weekend I headed over toward Moab early on Saturday morning so I could hike with a friend and visit a bunch of rock art sites that were all new to me before returning home on Sunday afternoon. These are some photos of what we saw.
Seeing this large Barrier Canyon Style pictograph panel was a highlight of the weekend.
Hollow Eyes
Red & Black Panel
Little Overhang Panel
Disappearing Petroglyphs
Fading Sheep
Shiny Sheep Panel
This is one of those rare panels that actually looks better with the shininess of the patina.
I think this might be the largest ‘backpacker’ figure I have seen.
I was glad to finally see this Barrier Canyon Style figure since I missed it the last time I went looking…
Very small Barrier Canyon Style zoomorphs.
The Hand Panel
Stripe Panel
Here’s a nice lineup of figures on a large boulder.
Fremont Alcove Petroglyphs
Sand Flats Recreation Area
Since I spent Saturday night camped at the Sand Flats Recreation Area, I went for an evening hike on the Kestrel Run and Falcon Flow trails before settling in at my campsite for the rest of the night. Although it was mostly overcast during the hike, the sun did peek out briefly a couple of times and after the sun dipped below the horizon a low magenta glow reflected off of the bottom of the clouds onto the sandstone fins below as I made my way back to the trailhead.
Kestrel Run Trail
Kestrel Run Overlook
Falcon Flow Trail
Diving Board Rock
The low magenta-colored light looked nice on the sandstone as I walked back down the Sand Flats Road at dusk.
Sand Flats Road at Dusk
Wow – I love seeing your posts. Here in West Texas, some of our petroglyphs are also disappearing. A ranger at Seminole Canyon State Park told me it is due to rising atmospheric moisture levels (from nearby agriculture) and that perhaps those particular petroglyphs at the Seminole Canyon park will not be visible in 75 years.