Counting Panel

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.1 - 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4960 - 4968 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: BLM 0931 MM 1
Fee: none
Attractions: pictographs, petroglyphs

The Counting Panel is part of a group of pictograph and petroglyph panels that are located along BLM Road 0931 in the Blue Valley Benches area southwest of Hanksville, Utah. The site overlooks the Birch Creek drainage that runs off of the north slopes of the Henry Mountains. The main panel of pictographs includes long rows of what look like tally marks which are probably what inspired the name 'Counting Panel'.

Birthing Cave

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4170 - 4187 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 3 hrs. (mostly driving)
Trailhead: Birthing Cave
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs

The Birthing Cave is located about 10 miles west of Gunlock, Utah in what feels like the middle of no where. The cave appears to get its name from a couple of birthing petroglyphs but maybe also from Paiute history. After visiting the Birthing Cave we discovered there is another alcove or cave close by called the Naming Cave. That cave is harder to get to but from pictures we saw it has quite a few more petroglyphs.

Poison Springs Canyon Road

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 18.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4206 - 5978 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 7 hrs.
Trailhead: Highway 95 MM 11
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic canyon, rock art

The Poison Springs Canyon Road is located 11 miles south of Hanksville, Utah off of Highway 95. The road travels through the scenic canyon for 16 miles before reaching the Dirty Devil River. On the east side of the river the road continues and eventually connects with several other routes including one that leads back to Highway 95 near Hite. For this post we follow the road for the first 9.4 miles before turning around. Enroute we stop at 3 different rock art sites plus a short trip up a side canyon to a cave that has several Barrier Canyon Style pictographs.

Joe's Corral

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4325 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Joe's Corral
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs

Joe's Corral is a petroglyph site that is located near the San Juan River, west of Bluff, Utah, between the River House Ruin and the Kachina Panel. The site has multiple Basketmaker style images similar to those found at the Kachina Panel. Access to the area can be made either by the San Juan River or a suitable off road type high clearance vehicle.

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.