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The
famed hunt (or harvest) scene is believed
to represent a fall migration when hunters
harvested a bounty of food
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Called
by some the "canyon of horned snakes,"
Nine Mile Canyon boasts several serpentine
petrogyphs.
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Nine
Mile Canyon is one of the few locations
where you can see large, accurate represtations
of bison.
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Many
roack art panels display anthropomorphic
characters.
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Stacie
Albright gives Balanced Rock a mighty shove.
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This off-highway road trip is for anyone with
an SUV who loves history, artwork, and majestic scenery, combined
with a little four-wheeling. "Nine Mile Canyon"
is actually a misnomer because this rugged rock-walled canyon
outside of Price, Utah is more like 30 miles long, and every
bit of it a head turning, eyeball popping experience.
Native American artwork lines the road nearly
all the way like no place else on earth. Pictographs and petroglyphs
are everywhere. Pictographs are painted onto rocks while petroglyphs
are pecked into the rocks. There are even ancient structures
like rock granaries high up on the canyon walls.
In all my road trips and off road adventures
(nearly 40 years worth), I have never seen so much historical
rock art in one place. After a couple visits there, I now
clearly understand why the locals call it the world's largest
art gallery.
Timing is everything with this road trip. Utah
weather is unpredictable, so one must be prepared for all
possibilities. I've done the canyon in the spring and never
put my Jeep in four-wheel drive. I did the canyon one fall
and faced huge mud puddles that required careful four-wheeling
to avoid getting stuck. On another late spring trip, it rained
the entire time and muddy conditions were prevalent. So the
bottom line is, just take your chances but be prepared.
I suggest spring or fall for the best times to
visit this treasure of prehistoric culture and wondrous scenery.
In the spring you are likely to see deer, elk and other wildlife
in abundance. In the fall you will be treated to leaves turning
gold in tall cottonwood trees along the river's edge. But
you really can't go wrong.
Directions:
From the south (Moab, Grand Junction, Price), the principal
access route is eight miles east of Price, on Highway 6/191,
turning north on 2200 East (Soldier Creek Road, at Walkers
Food and Fuel Chevron Station). From the north (Vernal, Duchesne),
access is via Highway 40/191, one mile west of Myton.
Map
The Whole Loop:
You can actually make this a very long loop road trip. At
least one full day should be devoted to touring the 78-mile
Nine Mile Canyon Back Country Byway. This includes four driving
hours, and time for short walks and frequent stops. The scenic
loop can be driven in either direction. From Highway 6, travel
east through Nine Mile Canyon, north up Gate Canyon, west
on Highway 40 to Duchesne and southwest down Indian Canyon
returning to Highway 6.
Or you can just do a day trip, in and out from
the Price area. But don't rush this adventure. Take along
a guide book from the local book stores or even consider going
on a guided tour. You can learn more in the town of Price
at the Visitor's Center, the Dinosaur Museum, or online.
If your road trips take you any where near Salt
Lake City, you are only a couple hours from this wonderful
road trip into our past -- don't miss the opportunity.
Del
Albright
12/17/06
by H. Bert Jenson
