Introduction:

What? :

This very short hike leads to a unique 100 Hands Pictograph and rock petroglyphs, 'Bighorn Panel' and the 'Shaman and the Hunter Panel', located on the red-rock cliffs above the Escalante River.

Overall out and back hiking distance is less than 1.5 mile, you do need to get up few rock ledges right near the parking lot, but it is not a difficult hike.

Where? :

The trail head is located right at the Escalante River13 miles south of Boulder and 15 miles north of the town of Escalante, Utah in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The trailhead has a small parking lot right off Highway 12.

Lower Calf Creek Falls state park is just a few miles north from this trailhead.

There are several trails starting at this location.

Google Map Link

When? :

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is open to the public year-round.

The best time of the year to visit here is during spring (March to May) and fall (late September to early November), the temperatures are moderate and less risk of rain.

The winter months are cold with rain and snow.

Accessing trails head that are not near a main road can be clanging to get to because of mud, ice or snow.

When it rain flash flood is a real danger!

Do not get into slot canyon or cross large rivers where the water flow is strong and deep.

During few weeks of early spring, the Escalante River can flow high enough to be difficult to cross.

Summer months are hot, and temperatures can reach above 100f. All hikes sections that are not inside a deep slot canyon are exposed to the sun.

Make sure you are having sun protection, hat and long sleeves shirts, and carry enough water with you.

Due note 1:

At the trail head there is a small parking lot, no need to pay any fee.

If the parking is full you can park on the nearby roadside.

Due note 2:

No restroom or water source at the trailhead.

Escalante River water are very silty, and it must be purified/filter before drinking.

Due note 3:

Keep pets on a leash and clean up after them.

Due note 4:

I saw somewhere that it can be buggy in the spring, bring long pants/sleeves and bug repellant.

Due note 5:

Historic Native American Rock-Art and historic sites are fragile cultural resources. Stay on the Trails and avoid Touching the Petroglyphs.

At historic sites be extra careful with old structures stone walls, do not touch or take a broken pottery or stone tools, leave them where you see them.

Leave no marks or graffiti, to preserve the integrity of these historical sites for future generations.

Due note 6:

This is a family friendly hike if they can climb the first rocky section.

Due note 7:

This is a popular hike, and you will probably encounter many other people here.

My thoughts:

Very short hike to see interesting petroglyph panels and the unique 100 hands drawing.

Interesting to see up close the curving the rock surface petroglyph technique.

If you are here for other hikes do not miss this side trail activity.

The Hike:

The trail start at the same trailhead of Escalante Natural Bridge and Arch, make sure you are heading up to the cliff direction and not walking to the river trails.

Right after passing by the private property driveway marked No Parking the trail is clearly marked by large rock pillars.

Here the trail navigate it way on top few rock ledges, just follow the trail do a minor scrambling is required and climb the rocky section.

After passing this short rocky section the trail climb up to the right and after short walk on the high ledge it turn to the left in the direction of the cliff.

Climb up and stay close to the cliffs and soon after you will see the Bighorn Panel.

The panel is right in front of you at your level and they are impressive although you can see the damage done to the petroglyphs by robbers trying to take them out of the rock.

After reviewing the panel keep walking and look up to your right.

Here you can see, about 30-feet up on the wall, the 100 Hands panel comes into view. Interesting to see that the panel is “painting” of hand marks and not as petroglyphs, as most old art is.

From here continue west along the cliff base and follow the trail that go up and below the cliff.

Keep walking along the rocky ledge and look for other petroglyphs panel.

The impressive and unique Shaman and the Hunter Panel is on the face of the cliff, slightly above you.

This is interesting panel that include “typical” hunters, and a figure called a Shaman, a strange looking man that looks like it has a wand with fire, or maybe this is just a bad drawing of bow and arrow.

After exploring this panel, I went to see if there are more interesting petroglyph in the alcove ledge, I did not find such.

From here I went back to the parking lot, overall, this was very short hike, and it took me for about an hour.

Additional Pictures:

Escalante - The 100 Hands Pictographs Wall

What? :

This very short hike leads to a unique 100 Hands Pictograph and rock petroglyphs, 'Bighorn Panel' and the 'Shaman and the Hunter Panel', located on the red-rock cliffs above the Escalante River.

Overall out and back hiking distance is less than 1.5 mile, you do need to get up few rock ledges right near the parking lot, but it is not a difficult hike.

Where? :

The trail head is located right at the Escalante River13 miles south of Boulder and 15 miles north of the town of Escalante, Utah in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The trailhead has a small parking lot right off Highway 12.

Lower Calf Creek Falls state park is just a few miles north from this trailhead.

There are several trails starting at this location.

Google Map Link

When? :

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is open to the public year-round.

The best time of the year to visit here is during spring (March to May) and fall (late September to early November), the temperatures are moderate and less risk of rain.

The winter months are cold with rain and snow.

Accessing trails head that are not near a main road can be clanging to get to because of mud, ice or snow.

When it rain flash flood is a real danger!

Do not get into slot canyon or cross large rivers where the water flow is strong and deep.

During few weeks of early spring, the Escalante River can flow high enough to be difficult to cross.

Summer months are hot, and temperatures can reach above 100f. All hikes sections that are not inside a deep slot canyon are exposed to the sun.

Make sure you are having sun protection, hat and long sleeves shirts, and carry enough water with you.

Due note 1:

At the trail head there is a small parking lot, no need to pay any fee.

If the parking is full you can park on the nearby roadside.

Due note 2:

No restroom or water source at the trailhead.

Escalante River water are very silty, and it must be purified/filter before drinking.

Due note 3:

Keep pets on a leash and clean up after them.

Due note 4:

I saw somewhere that it can be buggy in the spring, bring long pants/sleeves and bug repellant.

Due note 5:

Historic Native American Rock-Art and historic sites are fragile cultural resources. Stay on the Trails and avoid Touching the Petroglyphs.

At historic sites be extra careful with old structures stone walls, do not touch or take a broken pottery or stone tools, leave them where you see them.

Leave no marks or graffiti, to preserve the integrity of these historical sites for future generations.

Due note 6:

This is a family friendly hike if they can climb the first rocky section.

Due note 7:

This is a popular hike, and you will probably encounter many other people here.

My thoughts:

Very short hike to see interesting petroglyph panels and the unique 100 hands drawing.

Interesting to see up close the curving the rock surface petroglyph technique.

If you are here for other hikes do not miss this side trail activity.

The Hike:

The trail start at the same trailhead of Escalante Natural Bridge and Arch, make sure you are heading up to the cliff direction and not walking to the river trails.

Right after passing by the private property driveway marked No Parking the trail is clearly marked by large rock pillars.

Here the trail navigate it way on top few rock ledges, just follow the trail do a minor scrambling is required and climb the rocky section.

After passing this short rocky section the trail climb up to the right and after short walk on the high ledge it turn to the left in the direction of the cliff.

Climb up and stay close to the cliffs and soon after you will see the Bighorn Panel.

The panel is right in front of you at your level and they are impressive although you can see the damage done to the petroglyphs by robbers trying to take them out of the rock.

After reviewing the panel keep walking and look up to your right.

Here you can see, about 30-feet up on the wall, the 100 Hands panel comes into view. Interesting to see that the panel is “painting” of hand marks and not as petroglyphs, as most old art is.

From here continue west along the cliff base and follow the trail that go up and below the cliff.

Keep walking along the rocky ledge and look for other petroglyphs panel.

The impressive and unique Shaman and the Hunter Panel is on the face of the cliff, slightly above you.

This is interesting panel that include “typical” hunters, and a figure called a Shaman, a strange looking man that looks like it has a wand with fire, or maybe this is just a bad drawing of bow and arrow.

After exploring this panel, I went to see if there are more interesting petroglyph in the alcove ledge, I did not find such.

From here I went back to the parking lot, overall, this was very short hike, and it took me for about an hour.

Additional Pictures:

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