March 23, 2009

Salt Creek



Salt Creek is in the southern portion of Canyonlands National Park, and is the only perennial water source for miles around. Therefore, it has been a natural choice for Native American habitation for millenia.

Until 1998, vehicular traffic was allowed along and beside the creekbed in the middle fork of Salt Creek, but because of environmental damage caused by the traffic (sometimes up to 100 vehicles per day), the area was closed to all but hiker or horseback traffic. This ruling was contested by the Utah county where the creek is located and by 4 wheel drive organizations, but the final decision has been to keep vehicles out of the area.
We visited by foot several times between 1999 and 2002.
Angel Arch, one of the best known arches in Utah, is located about 8 miles from the trailhead.

All American Man is one of many Fremont pictographs found near the creek.
It is located in an alcove above the ruins of a dwelling and dates to 1250 BC. Apparently it was painted on top of rock art that is at least 1000 years older. You can see what appear to be handprints around the figure.
Here is what I call the "Smiley Face" pictograph, my favorite.

I can just imagine a youngster painting this above his home, including the entire family in his drawing.
On one trip, we were caught in a thunderstorm late in the day and sought shelter in a large overhang in the Rincon area. It even had a handy rock shelf for cooking.
The next morning's light revealed an ancient pictograph that had stood guard above our sleeping bags. This appears to be of the Barrier design, probably up 3000 to 5000 years old. We haven't seen this rock art described anywhere. Because we found it almost by accident, not many people may know it's there. I call this one "Batman". If you enlarge and look carefully, you'll see a design to Batman's left, and other areas with red pigment that may be what is left of additional ancient art.

To see other worlds, click here.

31 comments:

  1. very interesting. i love to visit your world in the future.

    my entry is here: http://ewok1993.wordpress.com

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  2. what a cool place to spend the night,you really have great adventures

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  3. As always a fascinating insight ans scenery that is beyon compare.

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  4. Oh, how beautiful! Add it to my must visit list.

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  5. So amazing rock formations and carvings.

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  6. This is a very interesting post. Salt Creek sounds like it would be a wonderful place to visit. Your pictures and descriptions of the pictographs was very informative and interesting.

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  7. What an interesting place. So pleased it is now being protected.
    thanks for sharing.

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  8. Actually when I saw it I thought of "The Mothman Chronicles". Gave me a shiver.

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  9. Really cool art work. It so fun to visit all these places, either in person or in your blog. This is one place we haven't been.

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  10. Beautiful Janie.... I'm SO glad that cars are not allowed in there now. I wish there were more protected areas like that in our country.

    The little waterfall is quite special--especially since there is so little water in that area.

    Thanks so much for this wonderful post.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  11. the rock art is fascinating - i have images of prehistoric teens drawing on the cave walls and getting told off by the elders, little knowing... ;)
    i'm glad that it's being looked after so well, even if it does upset a few people!
    do you know why it's called salt creek?

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  12. Great pics of the rocks. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Janie, what a great place. I'm putting Salt Creek on my list. I love the geology and balancing rocks. Can you camp by that arch? Some of those pictographs are very unusual from what's normally seen. Sure glad vehicle traffic was stopped. Thanks for sharing another great adventure.

    And yes, the Canyon is Grand!

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  14. A beautiful post with pictograms and flowing water and that sandstone arch.
    I am glad someone had the sense to keep whelled traffic out of the area. Much better to have people enjoying it without the erosion that cars cause or the pollution and discarded rubbish they leave behind.

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  15. How long how you been trail riding Janie? You must have sooooo many adventures in your memory book! I LOVE coming to your blog and getting to join you on all these fabulous rides!!

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  16. it amazes me how even the most ancient cultures have similar ideas to our modern times!
    Great my world post, thanks!

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  18. The most I liked in this was the Angel Arch. And thank GOD that this place is banned for vehicles.

    Kaushalya Mata (Vindhyeshwari Mata)
    Funny, Rare, Artistic, Unique, Weird, Creative

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  19. Thank goodness reason won out and 4-wheelers are not allowed to drive close to Salt Creek. I'm glad a few areas are being kept solely for foot and horseback traffic!

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  20. salt creek is awesome...am happy that they no longer allow vehicles in the area. i think it was a mistake to ever let any off-road vehicles into park sights...of course that is my opinion.
    anyway...the pics are great and so enjoyed reading.

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  21. As a hydrologist, I approve of this post! (Not that my endorsement matters ...) The name is striking: I wonder about its chemical composition, ... and the paleohistory is also a treasure trove to ponder ...

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  22. These photos are trulu expressive of your world... how interesting...

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  23. Very nice! Have I mentioned that your tours just draw me in? What a treasure that area is, and we rarely hear of it out here in the east. Thanks!

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  24. that is one excellent place to wander around and explore. i cud only imagine myself going there. great shots. have a nice day.

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  25. I've never seen that arch! I've got to look into hiking to that one, for sure.

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  26. Esther: We got our good trail horses lined up about 5 years ago, and we've been trying out new trails ever since.
    Before that, we did a lot of hiking and backpacking.

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  27. Very interesting, thanks. Its pretty cool to think about how long those images have been on those rocks and how fragile they are if some knucklehead decided to vandalize them.
    I also try and think about why they are there. Did they have meaning or were they decorative, or both?

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  28. What a fascinating place! Love the rock formations but love best the smiley pictograph. Makes me smile! Great, great post!

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  29. Yet another fine series featuring awesome desert landscape photography out West. Absolutely fascinating rock formations and artwork scrawled thereon make your part of the world incredibly unique. You never know what you're gonna see next!

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