Nine Mile Canyon - Part Eight.

Well here it is, the last part, well the last part which concerns our March and August 2015 visits to Nine Mile Canyon.  Finding the "Santa Panel" was thrilling, plus there were a few other sites along Frank's Canyon Road; but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Greeted on our adventure by a Mountain Bluebird.

First stop is Daddy Canyon Complex at mile mark 44.0; here's your chance to use restrooms if you need to go as it's the only area along the 50 mile road that has them.  I've posted many photos on previous posts, so there won't be a lot of rock art photos, mostly landscapes.

Just a few rock art sites...

The Dry Wash at Daddy Canyon Complex; go across and there is more rock art to see.



Daddy Canyon and a storm approaching.

44.8 - Spiral

Mile mark 46.0 is a junction; to the right leads to Cottonwood Canyon where the Buffalo Panel, Pregnant Buffalo, The Great Hunt and more rock art sites can be found. However, to the left is a one mile road that now has a name, Frank's Canyon Road and leads to the Santa Panel. This panel was so named due to the human figure holding a whip, while nine "reindeer" are in a line ahead of him (the third, very small one, is probably Rudolph). The reindeer are, more than likely, elk and mountain goats, but still, it's an interesting site to see.

4/10s of a mile along Frank's Canyon Road

White arrow on photo shows the location up on the wall.

5/10s of a mile (at ground level)

8/10s of a mile (at ground level)

In case you have no clue as to what The Great Hunt (mile mark 46.5) is, here's a photo.  We have been to it several times, and always manage to find something new amongst the other rock art in the area.



The Great Hunt

Buffalo drawing at The Great Hunt site.

Back at Daddy Canyon Complex, the view looking westward was stunning.

Here's an option for leaving Nine Mile Canyon, take the Argyle Canyon Road which brings you to Route 191; south of Duchesne and north of Helper.  It's a scenic drive and if you don't mind the extra time, do the drive.

Route 191 looking southwest.

As dusk begins to near, the mule deer come out and they will be on the roadway, so be careful as you drive through.

This Mule Deer thinks it's a Mountain Goat.

Almost to the Nine Mile Canyon sign, we saw this ram who surely needed a good shearing.  He turned, stared at us, his mouth moving silently, but we could tell what he was saying with his glowing eyes...."Get Out!!!"

...and did we!

Mary Cokenour

Nine Mile Canyon - Updated Map and Legend

 

Nine Mile Canyon (as of September 2015)

 

Located in Carbon County, outside of Wellington (Route 6/191), Utah.  An 80 mile road (50 miles west to east; 30 miles south to north); NO services available; private ranches (RESPECT private property/no trespassing signs); touring is FREE; take ALL trash with you; do NOT desecrate rock art and ruin sites.

Set odometer to zero when turn made onto road to Nine Mile Canyon (from Route 6/191 onto Soldier Creek Road – currently a Chevron Station on the corner).  Mileage may vary 1/10^th to 2/10ths from mile markers due to curvature of the roadway; many sites are 50 to 100 feet upwards (approximations), so be prepared to park, exit vehicle and look.  There will also be signatures with dates going back to the 1880s of pioneers, ranchers and visitors coming through the area.  Many signatures are included as simply reference points of location.  Do NOT leave your mark!

 

Mile Mark

05.7 – Dugout Canyon Mine, road goes southward...

12.7 – Mine Buildings and Offices; north side.

21.1 – Entrance to Nine Mile Canyon.

24.0 - Nine Mile Ranch and Campground; south side (odometer read 23.8).

26.4 – Columns of lines – natural weathering or carved?

26.7 – First Site (rock art site); north side.

27.3 – Wooden log bench to enjoy the view.

27.7 – Cottonwood Glen Picnic Area; south side.

29.7 – Warriors with Shields, initials SF; north side, 50 feet up

30.2 – Weathered wall resembling human figures; snake inside largest figure; north side.

30.6 – “James 1924”; north side.

30.8 – Human and Mountain Goats; north side.

30.85 – Man with bow and arrow; Bill Good, Wm. Carroll names; north side; possible “Bullman”

                                      figure (natural carving?).

30.9 – “Rob Powell 1881”; north side.

31.3 – “GB 1934”, “1883”, Man pulling horse with rider; north side, ground level.

31.8 – Argyle Canyon, road travels northwest to Route 191; rock art half mile on eastern wall.

32.0 – Series of dots forming a rectangular pattern; north side, 30 feet up.

32.1 – Deer Panel; north side, approx. 100 feet up.

32.2 – Snake figure; north side, approx. 150 feet up.

32.4 – Man with Antlers, RHJ initials; 15 feet across is Snake over Human figure; north side, ground

                          level.

32.5 to 32.6 – Balanced Rock, north side of road; rock art around base of rock and along walls   

                                 extending back from Balanced Rock; includes “The Juggler”.

32.7 – Snake and Dot Panel, “TC 92”; north side.

32.9 – “6^th Infantry 2/2/86”, Long Neck Horse; north side.

33.3 - Abandoned Homestead, rock art panel behind old truck, north rock wall.

33.6 - Harmon Canyon, road travels southward; upper walls on north side of main road have

                                 panels of rock art.

34.3 – “Towers” rock formation up on south mesa; Snake on north side, approx. 200 feet up.

34.5 – Centipede; north side, 75 feet up.

34.8 – “L. Wilkinson”, Crane (bird), wavy lines (water?); north side, approx. 50 feet up (across from

                                        Fasselin Ranch – no trespassing).

34.9 - Partial Panel of Deer, “Bar Bells”, Stars with Circles at Points; Script Message, “for coughs &

                 colds, go to Doc Lunt, Nephi”, north side, approx. 50 feet up.

35.2 – Jagged Line and Snake plus panel of various artwork; north side, approx. 200 feet up.

35.5 – Panel of Animals; north side, approx. 50 feet up.

35.7 – Snowflakes, Hunting Scene; north side, approx. 50 feet up.

35.9 – Three Panels of Patterned Lines, Cranes (birds), Goats; north side, approx. 100 feet up.

36.1 – Oddly shaped curved figure, Bug-like shape, “Bug Man”; north side, approx. 50 feet up.

36.3 – Human figure, mountain goat inside grotto; east wall, 50 feet up; Artwork inside sheltered

                    ledge;  north side, 100 feet up; Rattlesnake below at 50 feet up.

36.4 – Signatures from 1881, 1888, 1893 plus rock art; north side, ground level.

36.5 – Five separate panels featuring man with headdress, hand print, animals; north side, approx.

                      100 feet up.

36.6 – Triple dot marking on east wall of canyon; man with horns and spirals on north side, approx.

                            100 feet up.

36.7 – Series of small circles; north side, approx. 30 feet up.

36.8 – Faded rock art, signatures dating 1916, 1928, 1964 – north side, ground level.

37.0 – Tree and fish, “WC Carroll 1888”; pointed rock with carved lines (near mud swallow nests);

                                north side, approx. 50 feet up.

37.1 – Modern Graffiti; north side.  Prime Example of Desecration.

37.2 – Five panels of various rock art; north side, approx. 30 feet up.

37.3 – Bisected field and Deer; north side.

37.6 – Carvings of Spirals and Geometric Shapes; Spider/Snowflake and Lizard; north side.

37.7 – Spiral, “BP”; north side, ground level.

37.8 – Mud Swallow nests upper north wall; inscription from 1818 carved along bottom of wall.

37.9 – Faded Long Neck Deer (giraffe like); north side, ground level.

38.0 – Slanted lines, small deer and stick-like figure; north side, ground level.

38.1 – Faded circle and Elk; east wall, 30 feet up.

38.2 – Stone house, north side of road; “Indian” wall with timber and rock art behind corral

                        fencing; Nutter Ranch buildings on south side.

38.7 – Just before Gate Canyon Road; set of parallel lines, 2 squiggly figures; north side, 100 feet up.

38.7 – 30 mile road northward to Gate Canyon, Trailheads, Summit Vista, Smith’s Well; ends on

                                Route 40. 

38.7 - Rock art past the road of Spirals and Mountain Goats; north side, 300 feet up.

38.8 – Two sections of Rock art; north side approx. 6 feet from ground level, behind bushes.

38.9 – Two panels: Rainbow, Circles with Lines; Field with Man; north side, 30 feet up.

39.0 – Short Trail leading into small canyon area; rock art panels high up on walls (right side)

                        halfway up trail.

39.1 – Reindeer panel; north side, approx. 30 feet up.

39.2 – Granary with wood logs and thatched roofing located high up on northern wall; faded

                               mountain goat at ground level.

39.5 – Series of Dots, bullet holes have destroyed a section; north wall, high up; across from cattle

                                  yard.

40.1 – Man on Horse chasing a deer; north side, ground level.

40.4 – “10-31-1956”, faded mountain goat; north side, 30 feet up.

40.8 – “The Giant”; north side of road; immense giant human form carved into wall face; ground

                    level; around corner, 50 feet up on west wall – full pueblo drawing with “horned” figure.

40.9 – Faded panel of small figures; north side, ground level.

41.0 – Granary high up on southern wall; park in parking area, look up and southwest.

41.3 – Spiral, human and deer figures; north side, ground level and right of cattle gate.

41.6 – Spirals, Men with Bows and Arrows; north side.

41.7 – Granary almost at ground level; north side.

41.8 – Ground level stone walls and fire ring; “cowboy camp”; north side.

41.8 - Corner Granary high up on wall; look up and northeast (rock around granary looks like a

           lizard, granary tucked under its “chin”); north side at ground level is Man riding a bull.

41.9 – Prickly Pear ATV Trail; southward.

42.4 – Round Granary (timber visible) high up on wall at edge of ledge; look up and northeast.

43.1 – Snakes, Goats, X on far north wall; Rock formation to left forms small arch; north side.

43.7 – Carving of House (modern graffiti?); north side, ground level.

43.8 – Dry Canyon ATV Trail, road travels southward.

43.9 - Rasmussen Cave, fenced in cave with rock art; property owner sprayed painted “no

                trespassing” warning over red deer/elk; north side.

44.0 – Daddy Canyon Complex, north side; numerous rock art sites; trail over dry wash

             leads to more rock art sites; restroom facilities available on south side of road.

44.8 – Spiral and more; north side, ground level.

45.9 – Fremont Village, south side; extremely steep trail leads upward to reconstructed

                    Pit House; buried Kiva passed along way (overlooks main road).

46.0 – Frank’s Canyon to the left of split, road travels northeast.

          - 4/10ths of a mile, stop at open fencing, look upwards 100 feet for the “Santa” Panel.

          - 5/10ths of a mile, horned figure, deer, snake with dots over top and bottom.

          - 8/10ths of a mile, snake with dots going through it.

46.0 – Cottonwood Canyon to the right of split, road travels southeast.

46.1 – The Big Buffalo; rock art located behind sign; trail to Big Buffalo panel north side;   

               Pregnant Buffalo located on wall behind fenced in area (Access Closed).

46.3 – The Great Hunt; rock art panel on south side plus moon phases, various animals and

                             symbols along walls.

46.5 – “Plant Life” Panel; south side.

46.6 – Inscription from 1915 carved onto south side wall.

46.8 – Paved roadway ends; unmaintained paved road that narrows and has blind curves begins; be

                          aware of oil company vehicles.

50.2 – Oil company guardhouse; STOP; guard will inform when road is clear to continue to Route

                                                    123.

 

This Legend was created by Mary and Roy Cokenour, Monticello, Utah (2015).

 

To View Photographs of Nine Mile Canyon, go to: http://southwestbrowneyes.com/ , Utah Tab, Scroll Down to Miscellaneous Counties, click onto various Nine Mile Canyon links.  These photographs are the property of the Cokenours, and cannot be reproduced without written permission.

Nine Mile Canyon Map and Legend - Updated March 2015

For all you visitors to Nine Mile Canyon in Carbon County, Utah; here is the updated map and legend I just finished creating.  Roy and I spent eight hours there on Monday, March 23rd; riding 5-10 miles per hour, noting down odometer readings and taking photographs.  If you've never been to 9 Mile, or it has been awhile, since your last visit; then enjoy finding all the Fremont Rock Art and Ruin sites we found.

Mary Cokenour

Nine Mile Canyon Map

Nine Mile Canyon Legend

Nine Mile Canyon (as of March, 2015)

Located in Carbon County, outside of Wellington (Route 6/191), Utah.  An 80 mile road (50 miles west to east; 30 miles south to north); NO services available; private ranches (RESPECT private property/no trespassing signs); touring is FREE; take ALL trash with you; do NOT desecrate rock art and ruin sites.

Set odometer to zero when turn made onto road to Nine Mile Canyon (from Route 6/191 onto Soldier Creek Road – currently a Chevron Station on the corner).  Mileage may vary 1/10th to 2/10ths from mile markers due to curvature of the roadway; many sites are 50 to 100 feet upwards, so be prepared to park, exit vehicle and look.  There will also be signatures with dates going back to the 1880s of pioneers, ranchers and visitors coming through the area.  Do NOT leave your mark!

Mile Mark

05.7 – Dugout Canyon Mine, road goes southward...

12.7 – Mine Buildings and Offices; north side of road.

21.1 – Entrance to Nine Mile Canyon.

24.0 - Nine Mile Ranch and Campground; south side (odometer read 23.8).

26.7 – First Site (rock art site); north side of road.

27.7 – Cottonwood Glen Picnic Area; south side.

29.7 – “Bolo Man”; north side, approx. 100 feet up

31.2 – “GB 1934”; north side, ground level.

31.5 – “Tug of War” panel; north side, ground level.

31.8 – Argyle Canyon, road travels northward; rock art half mile on eastern wall.

32.1 – Deer Panel; north side, approx. 100 feet up.

32.2 – Snake figure; north side, approx. 150 feet up.

32.4 – “Man with Antlers”; north side, ground level.

32.5 – Balanced Rock, north side of road; rock art around base of rock and along walls   

            extending back from Balanced Rock; includes “The Juggler”.

32.6 – Snake and Dot Panel; north side.

33.3 - Abandoned Homestead, rock art panel behind old truck, north rock wall.

33.6 - Harmon Canyon, road travels southward; upper walls on north side of main road have

              panels of rock art.

34.3 – “Towers” rock formation up on south mesa; Snake on north side, approx. 200 feet up.

34.8 – “L. Wilkinson”, Bird Panel; north side, approx. 50 feet up (across from Fasselin Ranch – no

               trespassing).

35.2 – Jagged Line and Snake; north side, approx. 200 feet up.

35.5 – Panel of Various Animals; north side, approx. 50 feet up.

35.7 – Spider/Snowflake, Fish-like Animal; north side, approx. 50 feet up.

35.9 – Panel of Patterned Lines, Birds, Goats; north side, approx. 100 feet up.

36.1 – Oddly shaped curved figure, Bug-like shape; north side, approx. 50 feet up.

36.4 – Signatures from 1881, 1888, 1893 plus rock art; north side, ground level.

36.5 – Three separate panels featuring man with headdress, hand print, animals; north side, approx.

              100 feet up.

36.6 – Triple dot marking on east wall of canyon; man with horns and spirals on north side,

              approx. 100 feet up.

36.7 – Series of small circles; north side, approx. 30 feet up.

36.8 – Faded rock art, signatures dating 1916, 1928, 1964 – north side, ground level.

37.0 – Tree and fish, “WC Carroll 1888”; pointed rock with carved lines (near mud swallow nests);     

             north side, approx. 50 feet up.

37.2 – Five panels of various rock art; north side, approx. 30 feet up.

37.6 – Carvings of Spirals and Geometric Shapes; Spider/Snowflake and Lizard; north side.

37.8 – Mud Swallow nests upper north wall; inscription from 1818 carved along bottom of wall.

37.9 – Faded Deer; north side, ground level.

38.0 – Slanted lines, small deer and stick-like figure; north side, ground level.

38.2 – Stone house, north side of road; “Indian” wall with timber and rock art behind corral

               fencing.

38.2 – Nutter Ranch.

38.7 – 30 mile road northward to Gate Canyon, Trailheads, Summit Vista, Smith’s Well; ends on

           Route 40.  Rock art past the road of Spirals and Mountain Goats; north side, 300 feet up.

38.8 – Two sections of Rock art; north side approx. 6 feet from ground level, behind bushes.

38.9 – Rainbow, Circles with Lines; north side, ground level.

39.0 – Short Trail leading into small canyon area; rock art panels high up on walls (right side)

            halfway up trail.

39.1 – Reindeer panel; north side, approx. 30 feet up.

39.2 – Granary with wood logs and thatched roofing located high up on northern wall.

39.5 – Series of Dots; north wall, high up; across from cattle yard.

40.2 – “10-31-1956”; north side.

40.8 – “The Giant”; north side of road; immense giant human form carved into wall face;                    

                ground level.

41.0 – Granary high up on southern wall; park in parking area, look up and southwest.

41.6 – Spirals, Men with Bows and Arrows; north side.

41.7 – Granary almost at ground level; north side.

41.8 – Ground level stone walls and fire ring; “cowboy camp”; north side.

41.8 - Corner Granary high up on wall; look up and northeast (rock around granary looks like a

                 lizard, granary tucked under its “chin”).

41.9 – Prickly Pear ATV Trail; southward.

42.4 – Round Granary (timber visible) high up on wall at edge of ledge; look up and northeast.

43.0 – X on far wall, Rock formation forms small arch; north side

43.8 – Dry Canyon ATV Trail, road travels southward.

43.9 - Rasmussen Cave, fenced in cave with rock art; property owner sprayed painted “no         

             trespassing” warning over red deer/elk; north side.

44.0 – Daddy Canyon Complex, north side; numerous rock art sites; trail over dry wash

             leads to more rock art sites; restroom facilities available on south side of road.

45.9 – Fremont Village, south side; extremely steep trail leads upward to reconstructed

               Pit House; buried Kiva passed along way (overlooks main road).

46.0 – Cottonwood Canyon, road travels southward.

46.1 – The Big Buffalo; rock art located behind sign; trail to Big Buffalo panel north side;   

               Pregnant Buffalo located on wall behind fenced in area (Access Closed).

46.3 – The Great Hunt; rock art panel on south side plus moon phases, various animals and            

                  symbols along walls.

46.5 – “Plant Life” Panel; south side.

46.6 – Inscription from 1915 carved onto south side wall.

46.8 – Paved roadway ends; unmaintained paved road that narrows and has blind curves begins; be

               aware of oil company vehicles.

50.2 – Oil company guardhouse; STOP; guard will inform when road is clear to continue to Route 123.

 

Early Fall at Nine Mile Canyon - Part Two.

Here's the continuation of our first visit to Nine Mile Canyon in October; click Here for the map and legend I posted in Part One.  I just finished going through the December photos, there were 245 of them; all total, we took 409 photographs of the Nine Mile Canyon area.  Several of the photos, in Part Three and Four, will be of sites you'll see in Part One and Part Two, but in December lighting and weather; what a difference just one month can have on a landscape!


Daddy Canyon Complex (mile mark 44.0) is just that, a complex of rock art panels off the main road, and trails stretching back into the canyon holding even more rock art.  There is also a cave off the main road with rock art inside.  A very important issue is the desecration of these sites; self proclaimed artists, of the 20th and 21st centuries, believe their names or drawings belong as much as the ancient Native cultures.  Idiots!!!  This is not simply artwork left by the ancient ones, it is their history; their "books" about themselves, and the lives they have led.

Daddy Canyon Complex

At 45.9 miles is the very primitive trail up to the Fremont Village; we didn't do the climb this time, but will feature this area in Part Four of this series.  It is a very steep climb, so just warning you now.







Now when I had first heard of Nine Mile Canyon, it was from seeing photos of the "Big Buffalo" and the "Pregnant Buffalo"; I was determined to see them; lets say it was on my bucket list.  At 46.1 miles, the sign for Big Buffalo points to a dirt trail heading northward; you have to descend into a dry wash and out again; it's not too deep though and the walk is about 500 feet to the panel.  The trail to the Pregnant Buffalo is no longer accessible, and fenced off; better bring a decent pair of binoculars and a camera with a good zoom lens to see, and photograph, this beauty.  Besides these two panels, we found other buffalo rock art, but you'll have to wait till Part Four to see those photos.

Big Buffalo Panel

The Big Buffalo

The Pregnant Buffalo; she's an absolute beauty!!!

The Pregnant Buffalo

"The Great Hunt" panel is only 2/10ths of a mile (46.3 mile mark) from Big Buffalo; there is rock art stretching along the walls, but the panel is the most impressive.  The first thing we noticed about the panel is the similarity to "The Hunt" located on Montezuma Canyon Road (CR 146), in San Juan County.  One of the photos shows drawings of the stages of the moon; here's the rub, was this done by the ancient Natives, or by modern man?

The Great Hunt

Moon Phases

On our way back to Route 6/191, we were lucky to be able to watch a cattle roundup; the ranchers were very friendly; smiling and waving as I photographed them.  This was a perfect end to a perfect adventure.

The horses of the Southwest are so beautiful!











Parts Three and Four will be chock full of more photos; wait till you see what we found!!! Until then, Happy Holidays from Roy and myself.

Mary Cokenour