Nine Mile Canyon

Last Saturday, July 11, my friend, Rick, and I got up at 3:30am and went out to Nine Mile Canyon. Its about 20 miles northeast of Wellington, Utah.
(Sunrise, headed into canyon, RIGHT)

The name Nine Mile Canyon actually comes from the creek that runs through most the canyon (where the creek got its name i don't know..), and not the actual length of the canyon which is closer to 70 miles long.

The canyon runs through a small part of the Book Cliffs (a group of cliffs that run from about Helper, Utah, 200 miles east into Colorado). The majority of the Rock Art in the canyon was done by the Fremont People approximately 1200 years ago.

(Left, First Site, Approx. 26 miles from Wellington, GPS 39.7799999979, -110.4244449832)

After the Fremont people left, 1200 years ago, the canyon was used by many other people including the Utes and other Native Americans. In 1869, the explore John Wesley Powell was the first to map this area. Then in 1886, the small trail running through the canyon became a Federal Highway. The US 9th Cavalry, a regiment of African Americans, built the road and telegraph to service the military at Fort Duchesne, (which is actually closer to the city Rosevelt than to the city Duchesne).

(Left, Balance Rock, {not the one in Arches}, GPS 39.8005549981, -110.3422216503, this is actually on private property, but right off the road so you can still get pictures.)
In 1905 the canyon was opened to homesteading, thus causing the first modern vandals, and making many of the petroglyphs to be on private property.



(Right, Petroglyphs, use binoculars or a telephoto lens to view these glyphs properly, as they are on private property and a good distance from the road, GPS 39.8163883315, -110.3094449839)


"Approximately 55 million years ago, the rock you see in Nine Mile Canyon formed from lake sediments. When the area was uplifted, Nine Mile Creek began cutting the canyon you see today. The Sediments of the lake bottom formed massive sandstones and shales. A happy geologic accident makes this sandstone an ideal canvas for the prehistoric rock artist. It forms large, smooth, protected faces. It is soft enough for the prehistoric artist to peck out a design, yet resilient enough to resist the images eroding away." -Exploring Nine Mile Canyon Brochure

(Above, View Looking back into Nine Mile Canyon)

(Left, The Great Hunt, GPS 39.7799999980, -110.1352783169)

This Panel is one of the more well know panels from this canyon. It is located in the Cottonwood Canyon (a small canyon there branches out of Nine Mile Canyon) approximately 46.3 miles from Wellington.

It is believed it was carved in November or December time frame, that is the time the rams and goats are breading and the only time they are together with there youth. It is a Fremont carving, the large trapezoidal guy with horns in the middle is a common Fremont design.

(About half a mile south of the Great hunt is a lesser know glyph. GPS 39.7774999980, -110.1352783169)

(Left, Big Buffalo, approx. Mile 46.1 {just north of Great Hunt})

Big Buffalo is just north of the Great Hunt Panel in the Cottonwood Canyon. It is on the East side of the road and this picture is on public land. There are many more glyphs on private property to the north along the same cliff side as Big Buffalo.

(Above, these 3 pictures are around the Big Buffalo Panel, Don't forget to look up or you might miss many of the petroglyphs.)

There are many lizards out here and some other wild life. Here are a few of the lizards we met while out there. (Right)

(Left/Below, Daddy Canyon Complex)


The Daddy Canyon Complex is located near the restrooms by mile post 44. It is a 1/4 mile trail/loop were many petroglyphs are found. Be prepared to take binoculars or a telephoto lens for this one as well.

Even on a dry day there are many mud holes and your car can get dirty.
Also bring a full tank of gas, as there are no services between Wellington and Myton. (There is a gas station at the turn of in Wellingtion).
Bring plenty of water.

Remember Pack it in Pack it out.

Hope you enjoyed my first photo-journal.
Please Comment.

~Andrew