Trip Date: October 26, 2018
2018 UTAH ADVENTURE VACATION
Horseshoe Canyon Exploration: Mailbox Trailhead to The Great Gallery
The High Gallery
The Alcove
The Great Gallery
Horseshoe Canyon (Barrier Creek channel)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Utah
Sub-Region: Southeastern Utah
Sub-Sub-Region: Robbers Roost Country
Area: Horseshoe Canyon Unit of Canyonlands National Park
Starting & Ending Point: Horseshoe Canyon / Mailbox Trailhead on Horseshoe Overlook Road (Elev. 5350 feet)
Way Points: The High Gallery & The Alcove & The Great Gallery (trail hike & off-trail hike)
Invert: Horseshoe Canyon (up & back traverse of middle segment)
Approximate Stats: 6.5 miles traveled; 750 feet gained & lost; 3.9 hours elapsed.
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Full Trip Report
Following a full day of canyoneering in the San Rafael Swell, Lisa, Kevin, Dwayne, Eileen, and I moved our camp out to the rim of Horseshoe Canyon in Robbers Roost country. This area is named for the fact that Butch Cassidy spent time hiding in the canyons here. We pitched our tents in the Horseshoe Canyon (Mailbox) Trailhead parking lot, which occupies a large gravel bench with a sweeping view.
- Camp At Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead
Our campsite lended itself nicely to a hike down into the middle portion of Horseshoe Canyon, which is accessed by a good trail.
- Hiking Down To Horseshoe Canyon
- Looking Into Horseshoe Canyon
Once in the canyon invert, we wandered along the sediment plains and viewed the excellent examples of ancient pictographs (rock paintings) and petroglyphs (rock etchings).
- Hiking Thru Horseshoe Canyon Invert
Our last stop was at The Great Gallery, which is regarded as the finest display of pictographs and petroglyphs in North America.
- The Great Gallery In Horseshoe Canyon
- Great Gallery Pictographs
We retraced our steps back out of the canyon and reached camp in late afternoon (3.9 hours round trip).
Route Maps
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Photo Gallery
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