Evidence of the Spanish in Utah

uintahiker

uintahiker

Adventure Guru
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
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It's winter and there doesn't seem to be much coming in by way of new trip reports, so I'll throw a question out there about Spaniards in Utah. I know there's lots of information out there with varying shades of credibility. Have any of you found evidence left behind by the Spaniards? I've heard tales of lost cannons, old Spanish mines, etc. Any of you have stories to share?
 
The first white people to come into Utah were the Spanish.

Two Jesuit Priests, Escalante and Dominguez were in search of a route from Sante Fe, to Monterrey in present day California(1776). They utilized a of Ute guide which they named Silvestre. Their trek was unsuccessful, as they turned around and went back without making it to California. The spot was somewhere outside St. George (don't remember where exactly).

Things that they did while here:
  • walked through "Spanish Fork Canyon" (named after them)
  • Spent several weeks at Utah Lake with a massive Ute Tribe catching trout
  • The Crossing of the fathers in Glenn Canyon is where they crossed the Colorado
  • Escalante river is named after them
  • Kept a very good journal I've perused a few times

From what I've read, the only other business the Spanish had in Utah were for the Slave, and Horse trade with the Utes. I haven't heard of much else, but would love to hear substantiated info about it.

Great discussion!
 
There are two crosses carved into rocks in the red cliffs recreation area near me. One in Spanish Wash and another near Babylon. I've found the Spanish Wash marking. Is it actually from Dominguez Escalante ? Who knows. Still pretty cool.
 
"Observant visitors may find evidence of historic Spanish carvings such as this grouping in the mid-section of the trail."

From the red cliffs desert reserve website....
 
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