For my semi-annual San Rafael Swell geocaching event, I camped for five days near the Wickiup in the central Swell. My wife and I arrived on Tuesday evening and I worked remotely the next day. Some friends had arrived on Wednesday but none that wanted to go hiking with me, so I went for a solo hike on Thursday at the Head of Sinbad. I’d poked around the area in 2013 and again in 2020, both times finding some inscriptions among the cliffs, so this time I explored a different part of the area hoping to find some more.
The Wickiup at sunset
One of Earth’s moons
Mexican Mountain
Camp on Wednesday evening
During the drive from camp on Thursday morning I saw a nice reflection in the Big Pond, and encountered some cattle in the tunnel under I-70 leading toward Locomotive Point. I had been worried about my truck getting stuck in the sand because the transfer case shift motor doesn’t work but I kept my foot on the skinny pedal and made it to my intended parking spot easily.
Block Mountain reflected in the Big Pond
Cattle in the tunnel underneath I-70
View from my parking spot
I hiked in and out of several small dead-end canyons, and the second one had the unexpected surprise of a very nice view into the northern Swell. In another little canyon I saw a painted cross on a cliff and at first didn’t know whether it was prehistoric or more recent. Then I spotted an inscription by Warren Allred from 1898 that said, “Indian Paint,” so I assume it was prehistoric.
Checking out the cliffs
Great view
Pinnacle #1
Wispy clouds
Oh, no, Spongebob!
Pictograph
Red pencil marks
Indian Paint
Warren
Allred
1898
Pictograph below a shallow overhang
Farther down along that same cliff line I found a perfect reddish mano. A couple of small canyons over I encountered a shallow alcove that at first I didn’t think I could climb into. But after mulling it over a bit I decided I could at least try, and I ended up making it up without too much difficulty. There wasn’t much to see inside except a “W. A.” inscription–Warren Allred had also been there already.
Small arch
Cliffs
Mano
Mano
Another small canyon
Head of a canyon
Alcove
View into the alcove
Pit in the alcove
WA inscription (Warren Allred)
View out of the alcove
I ate lunch below the alcove and then finished examining one last cliff band before the cliffs tapered out and there wasn’t anything else to check in the immediate vicinity. From there it was an easy road walk back to the truck. It had been a solid three hours of exploring and another satisfying trip to the Head of Sinbad.
Head of Sinbad
Photo Gallery: Head of Sinbad