Lower South Mill Creek

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 6.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 4389 - 4762 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 8 hrs.
Trailhead: Westwater Road
Fee: none
Attractions: lots of petroglyphs

The lower section of South Mill Creek, in Moab, Utah, that stretches through the canyon between the Steelbender trail and the very popular North Mill Creek trail is lined with numerous panels of petroglyphs that appear to have been created over a long period of time by multiple different groups of people. Many of the images follow several different Fremont styles while others appear to be much older archaic. Hiking along South Mill Creek in this area is mostly easy and very pleasant.

Upper South Mill Creek

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 11 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 4550 - 5071 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 9 hrs.
Trailhead: Westwater Road
Fee: none
Attractions: lots of petroglyphs

Located in Moab, Utah, along South Mill Creek, between a section of the Steelbender trail and Ken Lake is a 3 mile stretch of canyon with over 50 individual panels of petroglyphs. The various style of petroglyphs have similarities with those found at other sites throughout Eastern Utah and Western Colorado. This post is a feeble attempt at pointing out a handful of the panels that one can expect to find if they choose to visit the area themselves. Even though it is practically within the town of Moab the area is isolated and sees very few hikers.

Solstice Snake

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 9.6 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 4012 - 5168 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 7 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Pritchett Canyon
Fee: $3/person, $5/vehicle
Attractions: petroglyphs, scenic canyons

The Solstice Snake is located off of Pritchett Canyon, in the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area, in Moab, Utah. Due to the characteristics of the sandstone columns near the face of the cliff an arrowhead appears like a light upon its surface. This unique feature provided an exceptional location for the long image of the snake that was meticulously pecked upon the cliff.

Moab Dump Petroglyphs

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 3.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4383 - 4488 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 4 hrs.
Trailhead: Sand Flat Rd. (38.57569, -109.5275)

Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs

The Dump trail, in Moab, Utah, is the name of a , dog friendly, hiking only route that is popular with locals for that very reason. The trail stretches between the Sand Flats Road and an overlook above the mouth of Mill Creek. Numerous petroglyphs can be found along the red sandstone cliffs that border the trail.

Hidden Valley Petroglyphs II

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 5.7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 4550 - 5124 feet
Cellphone: 2-5 bars
Time: 3 hrs.
Trailhead: Hidden Valley
Fee: none
Attractions: petroglyphs

This is the second group of two collections of petroglyphs that are located in the Hidden Valley and Moab Rim area of the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area in Moab, Utah on the cliffs of adjacent canyons. This group sits on a bench above a short dead end canyon just to the north of the first group of petroglyphs. Due to the large number of petroglyphs involved we have separated them into two posts in order to provide a more complete description.