Moab Area Rock Art XLVIII | Saturday & Sunday, December 20-21, 2025
It’s that time of the year again when the massive crowds are mostly gone and I can start returning to the slickrock landscape surrounding Moab on the weekends for a few short months during the winter. Throughout the busier times of the year my list of hikes and areas to explore around Moab has steadily been growing and I’ve been looking forward to getting back. This weekend I decided to spend this Winter Solstice searching for a couple of new rock art sites while also revisiting some sites that I haven’t been back to in about a decade. Of course, this weekend didn’t really feel anything like winter since the weather was very mild with high temperatures that were almost into the 60’s. These are some pictures of what I saw this weekend on the shortest days of the year.
I started out the weekend hiking through Hidden Valley into the Behind The Rocks area at sunrise.
Big Striped Panel
Wandering among the fins…
I’ve been trying for years to get a decent photo of this panel and think I may have finally succeeded.
Spiral Snake Panel
Fins & Clouds
I like the long wavy horns on this bighorn.
Bear Paws
Corner Sheep
Wingate Cliffs
Lower Fin Petroglyphs
From the Inside
Morning light floods into the canyon.
Big Deer
Three Sheep
Celebration Panel
Here’s a closer look at an interesting part of the previous panel.
Open Arms
Some interesting petroglyphs here…
Flute Players
There are a lot of flute players in this panel, too.
Dogs & Sheep
Gap In the Wall
I almost walked right past this small panel.
Maze Panel
I hiked up to the top of a fin for an expansive 360 degree view.
Parade of Sheep
Long-Nosed Sheep
Big Oval Sheep
Line of Sheep
Although it was cloudy and overcast most of the weekend, I took advantage of the few times the sun did come out and light up the landscape.
I’ve walked by this panel a few times before and never noticed it until now.
Faded Warrior
These two figures appear to be fighting.
High Snakes
This panel always seems to glow with color no matter what kind of light it’s in.
Tibbetts Cave
Broken Metate & Sharpening Grooves
W. Tibbetts, Feb. 1914
Excavated By Ted Sharpe
I spent Saturday night camped at the Sand Flats Recreation Area and caught these interesting colors and textures in the sky shortly after sunset.
