Parrish Creek Pictographs

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 4606 - 4821 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 1 hr. 30 mins.
Trailhead: 40.92239, -111.86619
Fee: none
Attractions: pictographs, scenic creek

The Parrish Creek Pictographs are located in the foothills north of Salt Lake City, along I-15, near Centerville, Utah. The site includes mostly about a dozen faded anthropomorphic figures.

For turn-by-turn directions to the trailhead enter 40.92239, -111.86619 into your driving app. (By the time this is posted you might be able to enter 'Parrish Creek Trailhead'.) From I-15 N you will be directed to take Exit 319 and travel east on W 400 N for 1.2 miles where you will take a slight left and follow Parrish Lane to the trailhead. The trail begins from the northeast corner of the parking area.

From the parking area the trail as it gently climbs the side of the hill for an hundred yards or so where you will want to go to the left on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

Continue north on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail to where a bridge crosses Parrish Creek. On the opposite side of the bridge take the trail on the right that drops down along side of the creek.

The trail along Parrish Creek is pleasant to hike for the short distance up to the pictographs.

One thing to watchout for along the trail is an abundance of poison ivy. It is easy to avoid if you see it in time. If not you will naturally brush up against it. Be aware that even during the months when the leaves have fallen you can still get the oil on you from the stems. Even if the oil only gets on your clothes or your dog it will then easily get transferred to your car seats and everything else that gets touched.

The crux of the hike comes up about 20 feet from the pictographs where you have the choice of making use of a knotted rope (if it is still there) to climb over a rocky outcrop or dropping down into the creek and climbing up the waterfall. On our trip I climbed up the waterfall while my son and granddaughter made use of the rope.

Once you make it past the above mentioned obstacles the pictographs will be easily spotted on the face of a shallow overhang. 

Several animal images and a concentric circle accompany the rest of the anthro type figures. Be careful not to touch the rock or do anything else that might harm the images.

Besides the poison ivy there are a few steeper places of the trail that require more careful footing. For those with youngsters it is a great place for them to learn what poison ivy looks like and at the same time teach them how to visit rock art sites with respect.

If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.