Inaccessible Alcove

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 1.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 5355 - 5429 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 1 hrs. 45 mins.
Trailhead: Flint Trail Rd. MM 29.1
Fee: none
Attractions: BCS pictographs

Inaccessible Alcove is located in the Orange Cliffs Unit of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Hite, Utah. The name is our own that was given when we found the alcove and noticed a few small Barrier Canyon Style pictographs and realized that we couldn't safely climb into it to get suitable photos. The images in the alcove are interesting enough to share the photos of even though they aren't the greatest.

Perfect Panel

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 3.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 5171 - 5357 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 2 hrs. 45 mins.
Trailhead: Flint Road MM 29.1
Fee: none
Attractions: pictographs

The Perfect Panel, and its nearby companion the Imperfect Panel, are located in the Orange Cliffs Unit of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Hite, Utah. Both panels are made up of what are known as Barrier Canyon Style pictographs and differ from each other mainly in the manner in which one panel, due to its location, remains almost perfectly preserved from the ravages of time while the other, which is in a damp alcove, has deteriorated significantly. Both panels are located in the very remote recesses of Clearwater Canyon.

John's Canyon Road

Rating: 
One-way Distance: 17.8 miles (driving)
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4752 - 5425 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 4 hrs. (one-way)
Trailhead: Highway 316 MM 3
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs

The John's Canyon Road is located near Mexican Hat, Utah. The road skirts the base of Cedar Mesa between Cedar Point and the Slickhorn Canyon complex. This post covers the first 16.7 miles of the 28.1 mile road. Besides providing access to the lower ends of John's and Slickhorn Canyons the road has several worthwhile petroglyph sites that are easy to access from the road. Having not done the final 11.4 miles we are unable to account for its driveability. A high clearance 4wd vehicle is required in several areas between Cedar Point and Muley Point and all points beyond the 15 mile point where the road crosses a stream in John's Canyon.

Cowboy Cave

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 7.1-11.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 5379 - 6417 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 5 hrs. 45 mins.
Trailhead: BLM Rd. #1145
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic canyons

Cowboy Cave can be found in the Horseshoe Canyon Wilderness Study Area in Wayne County, Utah. Being on BLM land the study area is bordered upon by the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and near to the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park. The cave itself is tucked away in a side canyon of the Spur Fork branch of Horseshoe Canyon. Hiking in the area is very remote and should only be attempted when in the company of someone with advanced hiking and route finding skills. Horseback riders and backpackers should be aware that most of the water sources can be undependable.

Cedar Point Petroglyphs III

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 5.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 5106 - 5374 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 4 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: UT-261 MM 4.2
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs, scenic desert

This post covers a third area of petroglyphs that can be found upon some of the boulders in the desert below Cedar Point. The Cedar Point area is situated about 4 miles east of Mexican Hat, Utah and about 21 miles west of Bluff. Included in this group of petroglyphs are ones commonly referred to as the Dancers Panel.