On our way to California, we took the scenic route through Utah and Arizona. Southeastern Utah is amazing country with all the exposed rock. We explored dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs in several different locations.
There were the Poison Spider Tracks made by dinosaurs 190 million years ago.
Dinosaur tracks above the Colorado River |
Then the Copper Ridge Trackway dinosaur tracks that were made 150 million years ago.
Nelson sniffing out the tracks of a dinosaur |
The Potash Petroglyphs were made by Indians of the Southern San Rafael Fremont Culture, which flourished between 600 A.D. and 1300 A.D.
Petroglyphs above the Colorado River |
Petroglyphs at the bottom of a sandstone cliff, viewed from the base |
Petroglyphs on a shelf above the Colorado River |
The last set of petroglyphs we found was at the Sand Island Campground, along the San Juan River. These petroglyphs are 800 to 2500 years old and possibly date back to 6500 B.C. Most of the rock was done by the Anasazi Indians but more recent rock art was done by the Utes and Navajos.
Petroglyphs near Bluff, Utah |
Then onto Arizona where we descended into the Salt River Canyon just to drive up the other side. A beautiful drive.
The Salt River Canyon in eastern Arizona |