Nine Mile Canyon MM 37.5

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 5803 - 5840 feet
Cellphone: 0- bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: MM 37.5 - 38
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs, pictographs

Multiple panels of rock art can be found clustered together in the Nine Mile Canyon area east of Wellington, Utah between mile markers 35 and 38. This post covers more than a half dozen of those panels that are approximately between mile marker 37.5 and 38.

Most of the petroglyphs are along the lower cliffs to the left of the short stub canyon in this photo. There is one significant panel a few hundred feet to the right of the canyon as well as several smaller ones. Although there is no designated parking area the shoulder of the road is wide enough for vehicles to get all the way off of the pavement and safely out of the way.

From the side of the highway there are several well worn trails leading through the greasewood to the side of the cliff where different panels can be found in both directions.

Some of the petroglyphs are probably a good 20 to 30 feet up on the cliff. There is an image in the shaded area to the lower left in this photo that looks like a map with the creek winding its way through the valley and a canyon forking off to what might be a hunting area.

This pattern of dots, forming a horizontal line with descending teeth, is similar to patterns seen more often in pictographs. Rain clouds come to mind when looking at it but we really have no idea what it represents.

On down the cliff to the right is a panel with several dozens of petroglyphic images with some pictographs tucked away beneath an overhang.

This is only one small section of the larger panel but it gives an idea of the density of images packed closely together.

Beneath the overhang the pictographs that don't get as many splashes from the rain are holding up pretty well especially the fine image on the right with its dangling earrings and necklace.

Another extensive panel of petroglyphs that is very well worth checking out can be found east of the short side canyon. This panel is dominated by two large grids in its center.

Once you get past pondering over the grids there are many other details to notice. We're supposing these images might be in the Classic Vernal Style both by similarity and proximity 

We've been asked by people that are planning a trip to Nine Mile Canyon how much time to alot. It is easy to spend a full day between the driving and the time it takes to stop at all the main sites that are marked with official signs and trailheads. Another full day can easily be consumed just exploring all the many unmarked sites that are close to the highway and even more time if you follow any of the trails that lead to the upper areas in the canyon. Hopefully bye knowing where some of these other worthwhile clusters of images can be found the typical day trip can be even more productive. If you would like to see this group for yourself all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.