Photo Tips USA – Canyonlands NP – The Horseshoe Canyon Unit

This part in the west of the Island in the Sky Mesa was added to Canyonlands National Park only in 1971. It primarily protects the Great Gallery, the most spectacular and oldest petroglyph panel in the USA, located to the south of the canyon of the same name. The best way to reach this really remote area is via a 51 km (32 mi) dust road that branches east off Rt-24 between Milemarkers 136 and 137 (close to Goblin Valley SP). At the first fork, after 40 km (25 mi), keep left; after another 8 km (5 mi), the turn off to the right to the trailhead is then marked. Over 2,4 km (1.5 mi) and almost 300 m (980 ft), you descend from here into the canyon. At the bottom, you take the relatively flat and well-marked trail to the right and reach your destination after about 3 km (1.8 mi). There and back, you need at least four hours. Always check for road conditions beforehand. Since it can get scorching in the canyon in the summer, you should carry plenty of water. Camping is not allowed within the borders of the National Park but on public land managed by the BLM at the west rim trailhead.

See topographic map here

On the way, you pass three more panels: The High Panel on the left is high on the cliff and needs a telephoto focal length of at least 200 mm. The other two, The Horseshoe Shelter and The Alcove Site, sit to the right and are pleasantly low. Reaching the Great Gallery initially elicits an oppressive feeling: Dozens of large figures painted on the rock with red ochre look southeast into the morning sun from their ten-meter-high vantage point (32 ft). Often depicted without arms and legs but with oversized eyes and additional carved decorations, they appear wild and alien and seem to wear tight-fitting cloaks. Between these humanoids are animals and hunting scenes. Due to their location, they are virtually indulged by the morning light but left stepmotherly in the shade in the afternoon. The whole panel is a good 35 meters long (115 ft). Many of the figures depicted are as tall as a man, some even measuring over 2 meters (6.6 ft).

If you don’t join one of the ranger-guided tours that take place in April, May, September, and October on most Saturday mornings, you will have to be content with photographing the paintings from a good ten meter (32 ft) distance. At least 200 mm focal length is required in order to separate the numerous interesting details format-filling. For overviews, a light wide-angle or normal lens will do. Only the rangers can unlock the barrier and escort you close. If you are shooting at midday, a polarizing filter does a good job of avoiding contrast-reducing reflections.

According to generally accepted doctrine, supported by the radiocarbon dating of the pigments, the Great Gallery paintings date to just over 1,000 B.C. This puts them in the early Fremont period, when there was no agriculture.

To make the most of your day in this area, hike the Great Gallery as early as possible in the morning and use the afternoon to visit Goblin Valley State Park.

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