Marty’s Moab Rock Art Tour

IntrepidXJ

ADVENTR
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
3,479
Moab Area Rock Art XXII
Saturday, December 1, 2012

The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO

On Saturday I drove down to Moab to meet up with Marty again for some hiking and exploring. He's going to be moving to Grand Junction at the beginning of the new year, so we wanted to get at least one more hike in before he got busy with the move. Over the last year Marty had come across some new rock art sites while out exploring the area, so today he was going to show me some of them.

I managed to time my drive to Moab so that I was near the Fisher Towers at sunrise.


Fisher Silhouette by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Highway 128 through the Richardson Amphitheater at sunrise.


128 by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I stopped along the Colorado River as the early morning light was striking the cliffs on the other side.


Colorado Morning by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I've driven the River Road to Moab many times over the years and have never seen a bighorn sheep along this stretch before. That would change this morning since this guy was standing on the shoulder of the road as I approached. I pulled over and changed my lens to get this shot before he climbed back up into the cliffs to join the rest of the group.


Climbing Ram by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

On our first hike of the day we came across this boulder with a few petroglyphs on them. While these look pretty cool, there is something about them that just don't add up to me. Not only did they look too 'perfect,' there were other figures pecked here that seemed to copy other figures found in the area, including a smaller but perfect replica of the 'Moab Mastodon' I'm far from an expert, but in my opinion these are not authentic. If anyone out there has seen these petroglyphs before and has an opinion, I'd love to hear it!


Elaborate Fakes by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Next we hiked to a small pictograph panel that Marty had found a few months back.


Paintings by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This figure was found nearby.


Alone & Faded by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

As we hiked along a creek, we came across this section that seems to have seen a lot of beaver activity lately. These are just two of the fallen trees we came across...there were many others.


Fresh by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A small pictograph I've been to before, but the reflected light in this little alcove was amazing as we passed by this time.


Small Painting by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This is a nice big petroglyph panel I've stopped by before, but it's always been hard to get a good photo of. I think black and white helps bring out the petroglyphs a little better here.


Big Elk Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Look closely at this section of the canyon wall hidden behind some trees. There are some amazing figures here, but they sure do blend in well. These are even hard to see with the naked eye.


Hidden by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

If you look at the carved squiggly lines on the broken piece of sandstone you can see that part of the line continues onto the main cliff, which means that this section broke off after the petroglyphs were carved here. I find that pretty interesting.


Broke by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Another very cool panel that I like. I couldn't pass by without another photo...


Four Arms by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

As we searched a new area for rock art, Marty found this point on the ground that was broken.


Broken Point by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A very cool petroglyph panel that Marty found a while back. It's amazing that I have been so close to this one before, but never even knew it was there.


The King's Court by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Here's one that Marty missed, but I spotted this time. That's why it's always helpful to have a second pair of eyes.


Hidden Sheep Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

One last panel for the day, high up on a fin. There are a lot of different sized sheep on this one.


Sheep Story by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Marty took this photo of me taking a photo of rock art from the top of a fin. There was a big drop off in front of me and behind me, so I wasn't too comfortable sitting up there!


Randy On Rock by Marty, on Flickr

The Rectory and Castleton Tower after the sun set as I drove back home.


Blue Hour by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

There wasn't a lot of color during the sunset this evening, but there were some interesting clouds in the sky.


Sky by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

>> Marty's Moab Rock Art Tour Photo Gallery

Featured image for home page:
slide.jpg
 
Was that bighorn on the north or south side of the river?
I would guess the north side since the reintroduced population was released in Arches.
They tend to spend most of their time in the Petrified Dunes area, one reason being that it is such a large area of the park which sees little to no human traffic, especially on the east side between Courthouse Wash and Big Bend.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Henk Hiking The Portal Trail, Moab Everything Else 2
WhozWutz Solstice in Moab Trip Planning 0
PaulMags Grand - Moab Route Backpacking 1
TrailScot New bus service to Moab and Blanding from SLC General Discussion 7
Henk Moab rock art vandalized General Discussion 1
J Dayhiking Moab's awesome geography, couple hikes to summits and rock art April 8-9, 2021 Hiking & Camping 0
J Family hike in the Maze in June? (Canyonlands / Moab) Am I crazy? Trip Planning 5
TrailScot Quite the Adventure, South of Moab, Across the Colorado Plateau, May 2019 - Part 4 Backpacking 17
TrailScot Quite the Adventure, South of Moab, Across the Colorado Plateau, May 2019 - Part 3 Backpacking 8
TrailScot Quite the Adventure - South of Moab, Across the Colorado Plateau, May 2019 - Part 2 Backpacking 14
TrailScot Quite the Adventure - South of Moab, Across the Colorado Plateau, May 2019 - Part 1 Backpacking 10
Stephanie B Grotto, Hidden Valley, and Moab Mastadon Hiking & Camping 2
blueeyes Devil's Garden, Moab Hiking & Camping 5
chandlerwest Needles Loop/Druid Arch, Moab Area Hiking & Camping 11
Perry Moab Area Fire Bans Coming? General Discussion 14
J Dayhikes GSENM, Cap Reef, Behind the Rocks: Deer Cr, Tanks, Sheets Gulch, Moab Rim Apr. 4 to 8, 2018 Hiking & Camping 0
misSOULa Weekend in Moab Hiking & Camping 6
stevecochranephotography Corona Arch Moab, Utah Hiking & Camping 8
Brian Skibbe Moab, Arches NP, Canyonlands NP. May 2017 Hiking & Camping 3
swmalone Thanksgiving in Moab 2017 Everything Else 0
swmalone Question about Moab Canyoneering Trips/Guides General Discussion 8
blueeyes Canyonlands/Moab Jug Handle Bikepack Loop March 18, 2017 Everything Else 21
S Moab/San Rafael Swell Trip advice-family Trip Planning 6
TrektheWorld Spring Break in Moab Hiking & Camping 0
Craiger Camping around Moab next weekend General Discussion 6
Nick A busy day around Moab Hiking & Camping 13
Dave Remains found near Moab General Discussion 1
Ross Hiking road trip to Dinosaur Nat Mon, The Wedge + quieter areas from Moab Hiking & Camping 9
Scott Chandler I'm in Moab Now Hiking & Camping 5
Laura Good camping south of Moab Trip Planning 8
Christian Canyoneering East Blarney, Big Springs East, hiking to some less frequented areas in Moab Canyoneering 4
LarryBoy Moab-Hite April 25 or May 3 - Shamelessly Soliciting a Ride Trip Planning 3
N Video report Corona Arch, Moab. April 2014. Hiking & Camping 2
Kullaberg63 The rim of Kane Creek, Moab. Hiking & Camping 9
natylka Moab This Weekend Meet Up (Members Only) 0
DrNed Arches / Moab Off The Beaten Trail Trip Planning 2
Phill Monson Night Photography in Moab Photography 16
Scott Chandler A Spring Hurrah in Moab Hiking & Camping 5
K This weekend: San Rafael Swell or Moab? Trip Planning 4
Kullaberg63 Newbie living in Moab Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
Scott Chandler Backpacking near Moab Trip Planning 4
IntrepidXJ President’s Day Weekend in Moab Hiking & Camping 3
pixie1339 Stolen Dinosaur Track In Moab General Discussion 3
Phill Monson Moab in Winter Photography 3
Jammer Boulder Mountain → Moab Hike Backpacking 14
IntrepidXJ Last Weekend Around Moab Hiking & Camping 3
alene Moab and Grand Junction Hiking & Camping 2
IntrepidXJ Lockhart Basin to Moab Hiking & Camping 16
Nick Moab Base Jumping Accident - The Aftermath General Discussion 5
Udink Moab-ish Hiking & Camping 2

Similar threads

Back
Top