Rock Art of the Book Cliffs XI | Friday – Sunday, May 23-25, 2025
After floating through Desolation Canyon last week I’ve become very interested in spending more time within the canyons of the Tavaputs Plateau from the crest of the Book Cliffs to the depression of the Uinta Basin, and I thought this would be the perfect place to spend this busy holiday weekend away from the more popular areas of southern Utah, just like I had done four years ago. I met up with a friend late on Friday afternoon so we could spend the remainder of the weekend camping, hiking and searching the canyons for rock art. Throughout the weekend we found quite a few petroglyphs and pictographs left by a number of different cultures and time periods from Barrier Canyon Style to Fremont and Historic Ute. We ended up driving a lot of dusty miles on rough roads, saw a lot of wildlife including wild horses and elk, plus we saw a lot of dead cows for some reason. These are some photos of what else we saw along the way…
After leaving work and topping off my gas tank in Fruita, I followed the Old Trappers’ Trail up Westwater Creek and Hay Canyon to the top of the Book Cliffs.
Once on top I still had a few hours until I was supposed to meet up with my friend, so I did a little exploring and highpointing.
Red Hands Alcove
It was a warm afternoon in the Book Cliffs and was supposed to stay that way all weekend.
Following the two-track out to the end of Survey Point.
A hazy view from Jumping Off Point over Westwater Creek.
After meeting up with my friend at Three Pines we drove down a long dusty road and found a campsite just before sunset. Then on Saturday morning we dropped down into the first canyon we planned to explore and started finding rock art sites right away, and continued to find them throughout the rest of the day!
Although I’ve seen many petroglyphs of horses, I think it’s rare to see one running or jumping like this.
High Pictographs
Horse in the Grass
It was a lovely morning in the canyon before the heat really got turned up.
Water Bird Panel
Lone Sheep
Looking Back
Birds
I think this is the first petroglyph of a horse I have seen from this angle…
Busy Panel
Willow Creek Canyon
Overhang Arch
Horned Anthropomorph
Old Anthropomorphs
Rabbits
Although I’ve seen a petroglyph of a moose before, I’ve never seen one this large.
Big Horse
Ute Story Panel
Smoking Pipes
I like the arrangement of the horses in this panel.
Lichen Patch Panel
Wagon
Ute Hunting Panel
Line of Sheep
Three Fingers & Sheep
Sweet Water Canyon
Angled Panel
Crescent Panel
Old & New Pictographs
Band of Horses
Horseback Rider Panel
Horseback Rider
We ended the day at this large and amazing panel of petroglyphs.
Flute Player
It was still very hazy or smoky out this evening, but we did have a nice view towards the La Sal Mountains from our campsite.
South Canyon Camp
We got another early start on Sunday morning since we had a bit of a drive ahead of us.
Light on the Ridge
Book Cliffs Divide Morning
Pete Canyon Road
This is a small undamaged portion of a heavily vandalized Barrier Canyon Style pictograph panel.
Arms Out
Low Sheep Panel
I’m sharing this one since I have no idea what’s going on here, but just coming across it randomly made me laugh out loud.
Faded Red Figure
I found this figure interesting since it looks like a petroglyph of a sheep was later modified to look like a buffalo. At least, that’s what it looks like to me…
Low Petroglyphs
One Sheep
These two Barrier Canyon Style anthropomorphic petroglyphs remind me of these abraded figures found over in the Robbers Roost area.
I was happy to revisit these beautiful Barrier Canyon Style pictographs again this weekend.
Missouri Creek Colors
Our drive back to the pavement got quite a bit rough as the road had deteriorated significantly since my last visit to this area.
When I left work on Friday I wasn’t sure if I was going to spend all three days out exploring or just the weekend, but since we had covered most of the ground I wanted to in just two days and the warm temperatures and dusty roads were getting a little annoying, plus I am getting short on PTO because of my recent river trips, I decided to return home on Sunday afternoon and go in to work on Monday.
Amazing panels. Thanks for sharing.
Not sure if you plan ahead and know where to look, or you just have a superpower for finding amazing rock art. Either way, thanks for sharing it with us. I’m fascinated.
Mostly planning ahead, research and experience- certainly no superpowers…
Another great report and beautiful panels. Thanks for sharing. I would like to get your expert though on some of them, mainly the Ute Story Panel and Wagon Panel which seem to be drawn with too much details to be authentic. There is even one human shape carrying a gun which prove it was drawn around the early to late 1800’s.
Those panels are certainly authentic, just not as old as most of the panels I visit. These were most likely created in the late 1800’s when the Utes were forced onto the nearby reservation.
Yes, it makes sense. I remember seing another petroglyph somewhere with a man on a horse with a gun. Maybe in Nine Mile Canyon, but I am not sure. Thanks!