Hog Canyon Travel Guide.

Hog Canyon, so named for the pigs that ranchers once pastured there, is part of the Indian Creek Valley; and the northern section of the Bears Ears National Monument.  While narrow hiking trails lead up to the walls that are popular with “Crack Climbers”, ancient ancestral rock art cover the walls as well.  Carvings and drawings adorn the desert varnish with humanoid figures, animals, insects, fern leaves, circles and many other shapes.

·         Location is 29.4 miles northwest of Monticello.  Take Hwy. 191 north for 14.4 miles, make a left onto Hwy. 211 and continue for 15 miles.  Newspaper Rock is 12 miles along Hwy. 211, Hog Canyon is located 3 additional miles west and located at mile marker 4.  There will be a dirt pull-in area on the right hand side of the roadway; narrow trails up to the rock face can be seen and followed up to the rock art.

·        Difficulty: Easy to Moderate; due to the falling of rock off the walls, it will be necessary to maneuver around, or climb over, boulders.  The dirt is loose on the trails, so wear appropriate hiking shoes/boots plus carry a walking stick, if necessary, for added stability.

·        Admission: Free

·        Facilities: None at this location.  Vault toilets are located at Newspaper Rock.  Any trash should be taken out and placed in refuse bin.

·        Camping: There are five (5) BLM campgrounds located along Hwy. 211

·        Pets: Allowed, owners are expected to clean up after pet(s).  Hwy. 211 is a much used roadway which leads to Canyonlands National Park– Needles.  For the pet(s)’s safety, keep aware of their location and surroundings.

As with any site containing ancient rock art, this is a historical area, so look, but do not touch nor deface.

Mary Cokenour

Newspaper Rock Travel Guide.

Newspaper Rock

·         Location is 14.4 miles north of Monticello along Hwy 191, 12.3 miles west along Hwy 211. (total mileage = 26.7 miles from Monticello)

·         The monument is a giant wall of desert varnish over sand stone; the artwork is from various Native American tribes spanning over 2000 years.

·         While designated a State Historic Monument, it is maintained by the BLM; open year round, there is no Visitor Center; vault toilets are open year round; no water is available.

·         Camping – Not allowed; campground was forced to close down due to flooding.

·         Pets are allowed at the site; they must be leashed at all times & owners are expected to pick up after their pet(s).

·         Website: https://www.blm.gov/office/monticello-field-office  BLM – Monticello Field Office is located at 365 North Main (Hwy 191), Monticello

·         Phone: (435) 587-1500

There is some hiking around this site.

Mary Cokenour

More at Newspaper Rock Than Imagined.

After writing about the Four Corners Potato (http://www.comfortcookadventures.com/2017/08/so-whats-with-potatoes.html) on my food blog; I decided to drag Roy away from his computer, and go plant hunting.  Newspaper Rock is only about 35-40 minutes away, well, except if you take the one paved road up through the Abajo Mountains and down Harts Draw Road; then it's an easy hour, hour and 15 minutes.  Armed with walking stick and several cameras, we parked in the lot at the Historical Monument; while tourists walked to the rock art wall, we went the opposite way.  There is a dirt trail that leads off from the restroom area; prickly pear cactus, claret cup cactus, sage brush, salt bush, juniper and pinon pine...but no potato plants.  Now mind you, we had no intention of digging up any plants; the thrill of actually seeing and photographing one would definitely be enough!

The trail eventually lead right back to the Route 211, so basically it dead-ended.

Looking across from parking lot at Newspaper Rock.

Trail past restroom dead ends.

Doowozhii aka 3-Wing Salt Bush or 4-Wing Salt Bush

Coming out onto Route 211, we decided to head directly across and check out a visible trail; zig-zagging through the wooded area, we ended up at Indian Creek.  It takes a bit of figuring out where to cross over, but we were able to get back and forth a few times.  Wearing waterproof hiking boots is a must for this kind of outing.  Three plants that were dominant were:

Burdock

Indian Paintbrush

Canaigre Dock (Buckwheat family)

The Burdock and Canaigre Dock bloom May-June, and even the Indian Paintbrush was not as bright being near the end of August.  Monsoon season was essentially over, so that's another reason why we were hoping to see the 4 Corners Potato, since it thrives due to the moisture.

We ended back at the parking area, checked out the trail that goes down and to the right of Newspaper Rock itself, but, again, no plants we were looking for.  We checked out the small alcoves there, where we usually enjoy picnics, and found that others had definitely been there....modern graffiti of initials and names that were not there 1-2 years ago!  I find it funny that, with this Bears Ears National Monument issue; tourists cry out, "It's public land, we have the right to be on it."  Yes, it's public land, but you DON'T have the right to deface historical areas, destroy landscapes, and leave your crap lying around!!!  ...and there is my rant for this post.

Anyway, we left and drove back towards Highway 191, but only got about 500 feet where there is a pull-in area; and across is a trail (hiking/ATV) leading off to the wooded area.  As there were plants along the bottom of the rock wall, we walked and searched; went down into a small dry wash, came back up and stared at the bullet holes that ranchers had left when they first came through this area. There is one large panel of them, but we started to notice more and then it came to mind that this was often done where Native American rock art existed.  We looked, we stared and then we saw it; faint drawings and carvings, could it be true?  Using my camera's zoom lens and a pair of binoculars, it was confirmed. we had found more rock art that was approximately 550 feet before getting to Newspaper Rock itself.

View of area from across Indian Creek.

Panel riddled with bullet holes, about 200 feet up.

Hunting Scene

Big Horn Sheep Carvings

Bullet holes obscure Roger's last name & full date.

Bird figure?

Figures on this panel are very similar to the Wolfman Panel at Comb Ridge (Lower Butler Wash)

More bullet holes among the drawings.

Stick figures are questionable, but the animal figure looks authentic.

Truman Wilcox was there on July 11, 1926.

Looking across from these panels, there is a jutting point; couldn't find a name for it on any maps though.

I asked locals about the rock art, but it seemed they knew of Newspaper Rock, but not of any in the nearby area.  It was suggested I contact the BLM - Monticello Field Office; I gave the desk person information about the area and contact info.   A couple of days later I received a call back; this is, indeed, listed as a historical site, just not advertised due to Newspaper Rock being the "popular" location.  Hey, all you public lands people, look, but DON'T touch...there's a hint for you.

In conclusion, we didn't find any potato plants to photograph, but we found this wonderful rock art site we must have passed by, oh, over a hundred times, or more, by now.  Still got a thrill for the day!

Mary Cokenour

Random Roaming Along Scenic Byway 211.

Taking the road up through the Abajo Mountains is a simple given when you want to get away from the realities of the world for a little while.  Oh, all the problems and issues will still be waiting for you; but with a clear mind, maybe they won't seem as impossible as before.

A second area that can have the same effect is the Scenic Byway 211 that takes you to Canyonlands National Park - Needles District.  You don't have to go into the park to get your mind set back; why do you think it's called "scenic byway"?

500 feet before the parking area for Newspaper Rock is a small pull-in area; across from it is a trail heading?  Well, according to my DeLorme Utah map, it would have eventually connected up with the trail through Shay Canyon and onto Shay Ridge; we weren't going that far today.  We'd had a lot of rain, so the Indian Creek was flowing wonderfully; our dog, Jenna, loved playing in the rushing water.

Trailhead Across from Pull-In.



Roy and Jenna relaxing by a huge cottonwood tree.

Going towards Needles, it's always a thrill to be coming round the bend and the entire valley opens up.  The classic scene is Bridger Jack Mesa and the Six Shooters; they are always a breath taking scene.

We found the trailheads to Lavender and Davis Canyons, but we only went as far as the split.  All the rain we'd been having was causing flash flooding, and the trails were a total mess.  Good thing we didn't try them out at all; the next week I met a man who told me he and his son had gone out to Lavender Canyon.  A flash flood had hit and the road was underwater; they were stuck out there for four days!!!  They were smart enough to have plenty of food and water with them, but cell service in these parts is hit or miss.  Only the week before, a photographer had gone out to Davis Canyon, gotten stuck out there, tried to dig out his vehicle and died of a heart attack.  He had not told anyone where exactly he was going; this is why you don't go out alone, nor tell anyone where you are going!!!

An interesting site you might see along the roadways is a colorful grass-like plant. I've seen sunny yellow, bright green, deep red and purple; as pretty as this plant is though, it is a weed and can be dangerous to canines.  The seeds of Foxtail Grass are extremely tough and cannot be broken down by the body; ingestion can be fatal to dogs; embedding into the skin can lead to severe infections.  For more information, go to WebMD and their section on pets (website: http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/foxtail-grass-and-your-dog ).





As always, this jaunt along Route 211 included a picnic; sitting along the Indian Creek under the cottonwood trees could not have been more lovely.  With any trip into San Juan County's beautiful areas, have plenty of gas, healthy snacks, water and don't forget the picnic!

Mary Cokenour

Bored? Not in San Juan County, or You're Not Really Trying.

Sometimes I have to wonder why; why some people come to our neck of the woods, or desert? They don't want to hike; climb; visit ruins or rock art sites; no fishing or camping for them; ATVs, mountain or dirt bikes out of the question. Truthfully, I believe they threw a dart at the map of the United States and San Juan County, Utah is where it landed.

If you're a devout reader of this travel blog, and why shouldn't you be, I've already written many an enticing article on San Juan County's treasures.  Bored?  Lets go up the mountain road once again, down to Route 211 and have an enjoyable cruise of the area.  Oh yes, I took my dog Jenna with me, and she so loved running through the forest and over the slick rock!

We did a bit of backtracking in the Abajo Mountains on this trip; we got to Monticello Lake (7 miles up), took the side road to Spring Creek Road (CR 103) and that short road (CR 163) to get shots of the Indian Creek Valley in the distance.



Abajo Mountains under storm clouds.

Instead of going back to Monticello Lake, we went back to the CR 163/CR 103 junction and took the fork all the way to the right; this brought us to the 9 mile mark on the mountain road.  One more mile was the turn onto Harts Draw Road, or the short trek to Foy Lake.  There's no written law that you have to stay on the paved road up and over the mountains; well, only the fear of adventure in your own mind.


Foy Lake is the smallest of the three lakes, but it has amazing trails that lead off from it.  Shay Ridge, Aspen Flats, Red Ledges and Robertson Pasture are trails that can be accessed via the road to Foy Lake.  Each trail is just as perfect as the next for hiking, horseback riding, mountain bikes, motorcycling, and ATVs.   Make sure to have plenty of water, healthy snacks and operating cellphones (even though the service is spotty); pick up maps at the Monticello Welcome Center to get more incites to the trails. Camping is allowed up at Foy Lake, but get there early as sites are very limited.

Back to that curve that begins down the mountain road, aka Harts Draw Road, and there are various pull-in points to take further photos of the Indian Creek Valley. 

So, what's so special about the Indian Creek Valley?  Drive Route 211 and answer your own question; if you cannot be awed by its wonders and beauty, then nothing can impress you about nature.  Might as well take that dart you threw at the map and poke your own eyes out.


A classic stopping point is Newspaper Rock where centuries of Native American art was left for future generations to read.  Ignore the 20th-21st century initials and dates left by people who obviously have no respect for any area they visit.

No matter how many times I have driven the roads in this area, I always manage to find something new.  Well, it might have been there all along, but for me, it's a new site.  This set of pinnacles reminds me of the "Three Sisters" down in Monument Valley, or the "Three Gossips" at Arches National Park.

This little jaunt only took two hours to complete; back to Monticello and a well deserved lunch for Jenna and myself.  Poor girl, she didn't even eat; simply jumped up on the bed and went straight into a sound sleep.

Bored?  Really?  Out in San Juan County's wonderlands?  Sucks to be you!!!


Mary Cokenour