A couple of weekends ago I went on my third trip into the Book Cliffs in search of rock art. The trip was initially set into motion earlier in the week when I was reading Steve Allen’s Utah’s Canyon Country Place Names, in which he mentions a Denis Julien inscription in Hay Canyon. I’d never heard of a Julien inscription there so I decided to attempt locating it. Allen was tightlipped in his book, but I found two mentions of the inscription online, one with a small tidbit of info that may have helped me locate it. However, when I mentioned my weekend plans to my friend Alan, he offered up some coordinates–he’d already been there! It was a long drive to see a single inscription, so I did more research and learned of some rock art to put on my list to visit.
I got an early 7:00 start on Saturday morning ’cause I was worried about making it to Alan’s 6PM birthday dinner at Ray’s Tavern in Green River. I topped off my fuel in Green River and then headed east and into the Book Cliffs along Westwater Creek. My plans to visit some pictographs and the Robidoux inscription near where Westwater exits the Book Cliffs was thwarted by some heavily-posted and fenced private property. Not that I’m necessarily easily dissuaded from trespassing just to get a few photos, but with the nearby ranch appearing to be occupied, I settled for taking photos from the county road. Just beyond the private property I did stop and walk around a bit to get a close-up view of some rock art that wasn’t on posted property. There were a couple of very nice Barrier Canyon style and Ute pictograph panels, along with many inscriptions, many of which were dated 1888.
Near the mouth of Hay Canyon I poked around a spring where I’d hoped to find at least something of interest but only discovered a single abraded glyph consisting of a circle and dots. A nice lunch spot presented itself and I stopped to eat a sandwich before moving along.
I visited one more pictograph panel, and photographed a couple from the road that didn’t seem worth hiking to, before reaching the area of the Julien inscription. I didn’t know fully what to expect there. The Denis Julien inscription was dated 1830, making it the earliest of all his known writings. Nearby, however, were several more inscriptions, mostly from the 1880s and 1890s. There were also some Ute petroglyphs in the area depicting horses and bison.
I had taken a lot of time heading up Westwater Creek, stopping often to peer through binoculars at distant cliff faces. Driving back down Westwater went quickly, though. After exiting the Book Cliffs I saw the La Sals from such a different angle than I’m used to that it took me a minute or two to realize which mountain range I was looking at! I drove back west and pointed the Jeep toward my next destination: two areas at the base of the Book Cliffs filled with boulders covered in petroglyphs. The first spot was simply amazing. The best panel was pecked into a boulder that had split in half, and inside the split were some wonderful petroglyphs. I wandered around and found several more boulders with rock art. I also found a shirt among the boulders that somebody had lost, and after returning home I realized it belonged to a Facebook friend who had lost it earlier that day, and I was able to mail it back to her!
The second location consisted of a single cube-like boulder with rock art on all four sides. There were some unique sheep, sun, and bird petroglyphs, along with one of my favorite rock art symbols, a canine with a curly tail. I finished up there with time to spare. I made it into Green River just as a light rain began to fall, and I waited outside Ray’s for Alan and his group to arrive, then wrapped up a fun day with a burger and a couple of beers with friends.
Photo Gallery: Book Cliffs Rock Art III
I’m headed to Utah (fifth trip from Vermont/Boston) to take photos of rock art in areas that I have not visited before. I discovered the Book Cliffs when reading your three trip reports. I was going to head to the Emery area to look at the Ascending Sheep panel and the rock art in Sheep Canyon, but after seeing your enticing photos, I have changed my mind. I was wondering if you would not mind telling me which road you would recommend me taking (Hay Canyon or East Canyon), and how far up I should go after reaching the Robidoux Inscription. Thank you.
The next you are up Hay Canyon way, turn east off Hay Canyon Road onto East Canyon Road. Set your odometer at the intersection. Drive approx 9.4 miles. There is little room to get off the road at this site.
One the left side of the road there is grassy area between the road and the base of the cliff. Looking up in the direction of the upper third of this cliff you will see a number of
red and white images. I know nothing about them. I noticed them while driving the road some years ago.
By the way. I’m not familiar with the location of the site where you picked up the shirt.
Looks like a place I should visit.
I live in the Fruita area and have some info on some other sites you may or may not be aware of.
Really enjoyed your images from 2017. I first saw Robidoux’s rock
and nearby “rock art” in 1983. I would very much like to visit those two rock sites you visited on the way back to Green River. The “split rock” and “cube-like boulder.” Are those at the base of Westwater Canyon or farther west? Many thanks. (I live in Grand Junction. Visited the Sego Canyon site a few days ago.)