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Stories on Stone: Rock Art from the Pahranagat Trail II

In Search of the Pahranagat Man | Wednesday – Sunday, January 15-19, 2025

This week I took Thursday and Friday off from work so I could spend another extended weekend searching for petroglyphs with Jared around the Pahranagat Valley, which is sandwiched between the fringes of the Mojave Desert and Great Basin Desert in southern Nevada. It’s been a bit cold in the Grand Valley lately and I was looking forward to escaping into the the milder temperatures found at this edge of the Mojave Desert for a few days. I left from work on Wednesday afternoon, drove across Utah to St. George, and grabbed a late dinner in town before crossing over the state line into Arizona to find a place to spend the night where Jared could meet up with me later. Jared arrived sometime shortly after midnight but I was sound asleep and wouldn’t catch up with him until the morning. We both got up early on Thursday to finish the drive into Nevada in the dark and then watched the sun come up as we followed the Muddy River through the Moapa Valley.

 

Never Ending Canyon in the Delamar Mountains

Our first destination on Thursday morning was to search for some petroglyphs in an obscure canyon within the Delamar Mountains.

Never Ending Canyon

Exploring a rocky wash and looking for rock art.

Rocky Wash Exploring

My research leading up to the trip paid off and we quickly found the petroglyphs we were looking for.

Long Boulder Petroglyphs

This was the first of many Pahranagat Man petroglyphs that we would see over the next few days.

Never Ending Canyon Pahranagat Man

Boulders & Petroglyphs

Boulders & Petroglyphs

We almost missed this panel hidden underneath a large boulder.

Hidden Panel

After leaving the Delamar Mountains we continued into the Pahranagat Valley so we could finally check out the petroglyphs at Black Canyon in the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.

Delamar Mountains

 

Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge: Black Canyon Trail

It’s always been a bit of a disappointment during my previous trips into the Pahranagat Valley over these past five years because I couldn’t visit the numerous petroglyphs that are found at the Black Canyon in the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge since the area has been closed to public access since at least February of 2015. That’s why I was happy to hear that a new trail was built in the canyon and the area had opened up to the public again in October 2024, so I knew I would finally be stopping by to check out these petroglyphs this year! Of course, the new Black Canyon Trail is kind a mixed blessing- although it provides access into the Black Canyon, it doesn’t really get close to any of the petroglyphs and you are not allowed to leave the trail, so binoculars and a very long lens are required to see and photograph the petroglyphs found here.

Starting our hike from the brand new and fancy trailhead for the Black Canyon Trail.

Black Canyon Trail

We would see quite a few Pahranagat Man (P-Man) and Patterned Body Anthropomorph (PBA) petroglyphs at a distance from the trail.

Black Canyon Pahranagat Man

Magic Carpet

Magic Carpet

Wall of PBA’s

Wall of PBA's

Corner P-Man

Corner P-Man

The dots in the lower right appear to be arranged in the shape of a bighorn sheep.

Corner Dots

Here’s a large Pahranagat Man and Patterned Body Anthropomorph on a boulder high above the canyon floor.

High P-Man & PBA

It may not look too large in this photo, but this is a very large Pahranagat Man.

Huge Pahranagat Man

Hidden among the boulders…

Hidden PBA

Little Pahranagat Man

Little Pahranagat Man

Boulder PBA

Boulder PBA

Black Canyon Petroglyphs

Black Canyon Petroglyphs

After leaving the Black Canyon we grabbed dinner in Ash Springs and then found a few boulders with petroglyphs carved into them just before sunset on the way to our next camp.

Snake Rock

Snake Rock

Boulder-Glyphs

Boulder-Glyphs

Duckie- the local name for this Pahranagat Man.

Duckie

Frenchy Lake at Sunset

Frenchy Lake at Sunset

The Hiko Range at Sunset

Hiko Range at Sunset

Pahranagat Sunset

 

The Emperor Panel

After spending the night camped near our next trailhead, Jared and I set out early on Friday morning in search of the impressive Emperor Panel of petroglyphs. This was our third year looking for this particular boulder, so I guess the third time truly is the charm since we quickly found it this time! Although we were very close to it last year, the snow in the mountains at the time made the hiking difficult and slowed us down significantly during that attempt. This time we had no such troubles as all the mountains were snow-free.

When we first arrived at the panel it was partially in the sun and partially in the shade, so we waited around for better lighting.

Spiral Man

The Emperor Panel

The Emperor Panel

Here’s a closer look at the large centipede figure.

Centipede Figure

This really is an impressive panel and it’s not necessarily in a location I would initially look to find petroglyphs.

Emperor Boulder

The Emperor Panel II

On our way back into the Pahranagat Valley we explored Hiko Canyon a bit, but didn’t find much in the way of rock art in this short canyon.

Hiko Canyon Road

 

In Search of the Pahranagat Man

We spent the rest of the afternoon and much of the following day in search of the Pahranagat Man and had some luck, but also came up empty-handed a few times, too. I guess that means there’s probably going to be another trip next winter!

The Trickster & Pahranagat Man

Trickster Site Pahranagat Man

Trickster Site Sheep

Trickster Site Sheep

As usual, we were up early on Saturday morning and already searching for new petroglyphs as the sun came up over the mountains.

Sunrise Drive

Morning Drive

Jared made a tricky climb up to the next large petroglyph we visited while I found an easier route down from the top.

Jared at the Panel

Mr. Big Hands

Mr. Big Hands

Driving over Medsger Pass.

Medsger Pass

We spent a lot of time searching the boulders in this area, but didn’t find what we were looking for.

Searching for Petroglyphs

Tafoni & Disappearing Petroglyphs

Tafoni & Disappearing Petroglyphs

This figure that appears to be playing a flute was an unexpected surprise.

Flute Player Rock

 

Shooting Gallery Game Drive District

After a few swings and misses on Saturday afternoon we decided to cut our losses and head over to the Shooting Gallery Game Drive District. Although I have explored this site before, Jared had not been here before and I knew that I most likely had missed a lot, so I was definitely interested in returning for another visit, too. We ended up staying out until almost sunset and then returning again for a few hours on Sunday morning before starting the drive back home.

Missing Head

Missing Head

Big Boulder Panel

Big Boulder Panel

One Sheep

One Sheep

Little PBA

Little PBA

Peeling Panel

Peeling Panel

Exploring the main side canyon near all the petroglyphs.

Polished Canyon Floor

At first I thought this was a big sheep, but upon closer inspection it looks like it might be an elk.

Big Elk

Petroglyph Cove

Petroglyph Cove

Busy Panel

Busy Panel

Curved Panel

Curved Panel

Sunburst Deer

Sunburst Deer

Driving back into the East Pahranagat Range on Sunday morning.

Dusty Road

Repeater Road

A lovely view from the East Pahranagat Range.

East Pahranagat Range

Boulder Sheep

Boulder Sheep

Pahranagat Man Boulder

Pahranagat Man Boulder

Pahranagat Man Panel

Pahranagat Man Panel

Pahranagat Man & PBA's

Sun Spiral

Sun Spiral

Low Sheep Panel

Low Sheep

It looks like there is a bird sitting on the back of this sheep.

Bird on Sheep

 

Teapot Arch

After leaving the Shooting Gallery and making our way east out of Nevada, we made one last stop near Panaca so we could check out Teapot Arch. Then it was a long drive back across Utah to the Grand Valley so I could return to work on Monday.

Below Teapot Arch

Teapot Arch

Teapot Arch Sunstar

>> Rock Art from the Pahranagat Trail II Photo Gallery

2 Comments

  1. Sue Jasper
    Sue Jasper January 30, 2025

    Excellent! I miss the opportunity to visit these sights now (I live in Arkansas now). I never finished seeing all of Shooting Gallery and the Black Cyn was off limits at the time. Thank you for sharing.

  2. AdventureTaco Dan
    AdventureTaco Dan January 30, 2025

    Nice! Glad you were finally able to find the Emperor Panel. Took me three attempts as well, and I was delighted to find it the third time; pretty special one IMO.

    Also, I had no idea of its name, so thanks for that!

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