Hikers walk through Horseshoe Canyon amid gold-leaf trees in Canyonlands National Park in Utah
Hiking along Barrier Creek in Horseshoe Canyon

Horseshoe Canyon Exploration: Mailbox Trailhead to The Great Gallery (Canyonlands National Park, UT)

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.

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

Horseshoe Canyon Exploration Route Map (CalTopo)

Click to enlarge…