-->

Spirals Panel


Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 40 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4943 - 4953 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 15 mins.
Trailhead: 37.44848, -109.62526
Fee: $5/day/person-$10/week
Attractions: petroglyphs




The Spirals Panel is located east of the north end of the Lower Butler Wash Road in the Bears Ears National Monument west of Blanding and Bluff, Utah. The easy to get to site includes various depictions of spirals, in both circle, square, and triangle shapes, and what looks like a bald headed Egyption priest leveling a long spear above his shoulders.


For turn-by-turn directions to the site enter 37.44848, -109.62526 into your driving app. The turnoff is 7.1 miles south of UT-95 and 14.2 miles north of US-163. After turning off of the Lower Butler Wash Road it is just over a quarter mile to where the side road passes close to the point of a cliff where the petroglyphs are located.


From the road the petroglyphs are visible on the cliff behind a small juniper tree.


The main panel shows the bald figure standing between 2 circles. It might be wearing a fringed skirt.


Here is a rough tracing done on the computer to make it stand out.


Looking closely you can make out 2 black eyes, an ear with its large dangling ring, and something like a serpent on its torso.


The largest spiral circle takes a clockwise turn.


To the left is a spiral square joined with a spiral circle.


For something a little different here are 3 spiral triangles within a trapezoid off to the right.


Two more trapezoids with 3 elements but this time forming spiraled squares.


High up on the cliff is a pineapple shape with a lot of circles.


In the middle of the cliff face there is a deer or sheep figure to the right of which are 2 images of hands.


There are more images off to the right, and mixed in elsewhere, that include what might be feathers, plants, or both.


Whether the figure holding what looks like a spear is a shaman, warrior, or god is something that we don't know. You have to admit that he is pretty interesting.

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