Nine Mile Canyon has been described by many as America's Longest Art Gallery. Surprisingly, it is a 40-mile canyon that can be traveled by car on a two-way paved highway. The “nine mile” name comes from the type of machinary that was origionally used to create the dirt highway.
Petroglyphs from many different peoples can be discovered here. Stopping at nearly every place along this canyon, you can search with your binoculars to find artwork left by different cultures. The artwork includes the pieces from the Utah Fremont (2,000 to 700 years ago) and combinations of artwork from the Ute, Paiute, and Shoshone. Petroglyphs from Butch Casady-era cowboys can be found too, along with names and dates from early Utah pioneer settlers. These names are painted with dark colored axel grease from the late 1800s. During that time, the canyon was used to haul freight by wagon from the railroad in Price northward to the Uinta Basin.
Some artwork has similarities to the Moab-region Anasazi people. Ute panels are clearly indicated with buffalos and hunters riding horses. Other panels are very similar to the Paiute petroglyphs of Parowan Gap. This canyon has obviously been a cooridor for many of the cultures that have lived in Utah.
It can become addicting to stop at every turn of the canyon to look up and discover multiple panels. It is impossible to see the entirety of this art gallery in one day. Some panels are found at the canyon floor next to the road. Others can be spotted high up the canyon wall, where scrambling is required to get a closer view. Many animal petroglyphs can be found including owl, coyote, lizard, desert big horn sheep, buffalo, horse, dogs, elk, deer, bear-claw footprints, snakes, and sandhill cranes.
There are no services after Wellington, Utah, so plan accordingly with gas and water. There are picnic tables available at a few spots along the way. Some canyons that branch off of Nine Mile Canyon are privately owned. Please respect private property.
Artifacts, arrowheads, granaries, and all other artifacts and artwork should be left untouched. Take only pictures, and leave only footprints.
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