Chalk Creek Hieroglyphics

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 5670 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 20 mins.
Trailhead: Chalk Creek Hieroglyphics
Fee: none
Attractions: hieroglyphic like images

The Chalk Creek Hieroglyphics site is an interesting location that is about 4 miles east of Fillmore, Utah. The site has 20 or so images that are laid out on a small cliff, in storybook fashion, and thought by some to be of Mayan origin although that is only one of the theories.

For turn-by-turn directions enter 'Chalk Creek Hieroglyphics' into your driving app. Other than that drives east out of Fillmore on the Chalk Creek Canyon Road for about 3.3 miles. The road is paved for much of the way. From here a 4wd vehicle is required to drive up the steep rocky road. There is a nice large parking area just past the turnoff where 2wd vehicles can park and hike from there. The sign indicates it is 1 mile up to the site although we measured only 6 tenths of a mile.

Follow the signs after turning off of the main road. Note that one of the signs mentions 'No camping' around the creek.

Eventually you will end up on a bench that was bulldozed into the side of the hill where you will find the trailhead. From the trailhead to the hieroglyphics it is only a 20 foot or so walk.

There are two kiosks at the trailhead that are a must read to get much out of the site.

The panel occupies a small surface just above a cave that was dugout by a couple of adventurers that were looking for treasure.

The images themselves are maybe the size of your fist or a little larger.

According to the kiosk 'some of the images closely resemble Mayan hieroglyphics'.

Another theory postulates that the images were made by Aztec Refugees that fled north with great treasure after the conquistador Hernando Cortes imprisoned Aztec emperor Montezuma.

It is interesting that a few of the same symbols appear more than once, just as do words when writing or speaking.

The second kiosk goes over five of the sites 'Theories of Origin'. Several of the theories seem to have supporting evidence. One mentions a piece of wood that was found tucked away into a hole beneath the glyphs that was written in Pahawh Hmong, a 'lost' written Asian language. Another theory references a nearby 'map stone'.

Three persons are mentioned on the first kiosk that died from toxic gases while excavating in the area looking for treasure. A Mexican archaeological guide named Jose Davila believed the symbols told of two sacred golden plates that ancient refugees had buried in a chamber nearby. Along with others Davila excavated over 600 feet of tunnels nearby, during a 4 year period between 1965-1969, searching for the chamber. The west abounds with numerous stories of treasure caves of all sorts but we only know of one cave ever having been found and that was by two brothers of my father-in-law. They weren't looking for treasure but they did come upon a cave that contained conquistador armor among other artifacts. If you would like to see the hieroglyphics for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.