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| Unexpected Pictograph Panel |
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| Concave Rock with Unexpected Panel |
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| Most difficult part of Approach Road |
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| Old Fireplace at Trailhead |
On the third day of our trip to Hanksville, we drove north on Utah SR 24 to approximately 3 miles past the Goblin Valley Road turn to the left. We came to a dirt road that is blocked by a gate. We opened the gate, drove through and closed the gate. The road had been grated but there were still sharp rocks all over it. There was also a washout that we had to drive around. The going was rough but our two Subarus in the 4WD mode made it with a little prayer. Nearing the reef, we turned onto another dirt road to the right. The trailhead has an old fireplace and, today, there were two friendly men camping there. We said our "hellos" and learned that they had hiked to the Unexpected Panel the day before. There might be footprints to follow!
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| Starting out Old Woman Wash |
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| Flowers in the Wash |
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| Wash Fork Ahead |
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| Faded Pictographs at Wash Fork |
We hiked up the wide wash and veered to the right as we neared the wash fork. Here, we looked up on the right wall and quickly found some old faded pictographs. Back in the wash, we were soon transitioning onto a trail that climbs up the left embankment. The wash, itself, is a very rocky and scrambly wash. It would take a lot of our energy reserves! Happy to follow a trail, we climbed gently up and circled to the right where we found ourselves at the top of somewhat of a cliff. Our instructions were to find a cracked rock for the trail down. This trail was supposed to be "easy as pie!" Sure enough, we found the trail down and it was fairly easy. It dropped us into the Old Woman Wash below.
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| Finding Trail climbing out of Wash on Left Side |
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| Wash Fork Below - Cryptobiotic Soil in Foreground |
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| Following the Trail |
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| Heading toward the Landmarks |
We could see the landmark concave rock on the right side of the wash in the distance. There was a trail that led all the way to it and the Unexpected Panel of pictographs. These paintings were different to say the least. Bug eyes. Creepy crawlies. The tick, tick, tick of time indicated. Someone had a great imagination ... or, did he? Hmmm. We sat and contemplated the rock art as we took our break then started our return. Back up on top of the cliff, we instinctively followed a more direct route back to the trail on the south side of the wash. This was shorter and less complicated than the out of the way route we took on the way up. Once we reached the trail, we were good to go.
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| Terrain to Left of Trail |
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| View down off Reef to Panel Rock |
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| Drop down to Wash |
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| Unexpected Panel |
From then on, it was a matter of hiking the remaining 3 miles of the 7.5 mile hike. Down the trail. Past the faded pictographs. Down the wide wash. And back to the cars. It was a great day! Thanks David M.
Stats: 7.5 miles; 1200' gain; 5 hours
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| Scramble on return Trail |
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| Returning through the Fork |
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| Almost back to the Cars |
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