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Nine Mile Canyon
Every year, tens of thousands of visitors brave miles of dusty dirt roads for a glimpse at Nine Mile Canyon rock art.
Horseback riders check out Indian rock art on walls of Nine Mile Canyon.
Ravell Call, Deseret News |
The eastern Utah canyon, which is actually 50 miles long, features gallery upon gallery of prehistoric paintings and etchings famed throughout the world for both the sheer quantity and almost magical quality of the depictions.
The remarkable rock art collection is preserved mainly through the integrity of tourists. The canyon is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, but is only protected by the Antiquities Act, which prohibits the destruction or excavation of any prehistoric ruin or structure.
Since much of the rock art is located in the canyon bottom on private property, tourists are also encouraged to respect the rights of land owners.
A leisurely trip through the canyon to enjoy the art collection takes about a half-day. The canyon is also a popular spot for mountain bikers. It is estimated that between 100 and 600 people a day visit Nine Mile Canyon.
The head of Nine Mile Canyon is located near the town of Wellington, about seven miles east of Price in Carbon County and about 125 miles from Salt Lake City.
More information on touring the canyon is available at www.blm.gov/utah/price/9mile.htm.
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