-->

Harvey Gap Rockshelter

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 50 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6172 - 6185 feet
Cellphone: 1-3 bars
Time: 15 mins.
Trailhead: CR-237
Fee: none
Attractions: pictograph




The Harvey Gap Rockshelter is located within 10 feet of the Harvey Gap Road about 4 miles north of Silt, Colorado. Besides obvious signs of habitation the site includes a pictograph of a woman that appears to be with child.


To get there from Silt turn north off of Main Street onto 1st Street. Stay on 1st for 1.19 miles and then turn left onto the Silt Mesa Road. Continue for 0.69 miles and turn right onto the Harvey Gap Road. The unmarked rockshelter will be on the west side of the road after another 2.5 miles. The only way to get all the way off of the pavement is to pull into the bar ditch on the west side of the road which would require driving a little further up the Harvey Gap Road, turning around, and coming back. We were able to pull completely off of the pavement with our full sized Toyota Tundra.


The pictograph is probably a couple feet high and faces the road at an angle.


We outlined it on the computer to make it stand out. It is obviously an image of a female and she appears to be close to birth.


There are also what look like some very faded and indistinguishable wetted charcoal pictographs in a recessed area near the entrance to the rock shelter.


The rockshelter itself is unremarkable but does show signs of habitation.


Some of the sandstone on the back wall has been reddened by the heat from a fire much like an oven brick.



Here is another photo that shows just how close the site is to the pavement. Be sure to use extreme caution parking along the side of the road and getting in and out of your vehicle. Also remember that it is illegal to damage an archaeological site in any manner, even accidentally. This includes digging, removing artifacts or touching the rock art with your fingers or outlining the images with chalk. Some people may prefer to simply slow down enough to take a photo or two without creating an immediate hazard and leave it at that. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.