The Great Gallery is often referred to as the pictograph panel that all others are compared to, and the best preserved Barrier Canyon Style panel in existence today. If you are interested in Native American art, this is an absolute must see.

The Great Gallery is a single panel about 200 feet long with about 20 images, but the hike itself visits several other panels along the way as well, making for a full day with lots to see. The panels are believed to be between 1500 to 4000 years old, and were created during the late archaic period. Interestingly, The Great Gallery has been reproduced in both the Museum of Modern Art and the Denver Natural History Museum.

Canyonlands National Park was extended to include this area and insure the rock art is protected for future generations to see. As such, no camping in Horseshoe Canyon proper, no dogs, and no hunting. There is not a fee to visit. There is a "campground" at the trailhead which consists of a pit toilet and flat area with a few pullouts. There is no fee to use the camping area, but no picnic tables, firepits, or water. Finally, the dirt road out is long. Stay out of this area if rain is expected, the road can become impassable quickly. Generally a carefully driven car can reach the trailhead, but high clearance is recommended. The last mile or so from the main road to the trailhead has a few rough spots that may give low clearance vehicles pause.

For those visiting in spring or fall, there are ranger led tours on Saturdays starting at the trailhead at 9AM. Visiting in the summer is NOT recommended, as temperatures easily top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING, BUT DON'T TOUCH THE ROCK ART!

From the NPS:

Horsehoe Canyon

The isolation and remote nature of this desert environment was shattered during the 1920's with oil exploration. Roads followed and "Barrier" Canyon became more accessible. Today, a hiking trail follows the former road into the canyon. Be prepared for tough, high-altitude hiking with summer temperatures exceeding 100 F (38 C). Hike early or late in the day, taking ample breaks in the shade of the cottonwood trees.

Barrier Canyon

Since the turn of the century, visitors have been fascinated by the magnificent rock art site of Horseshoe Canyon, once known as Barrier Canyon. Barrier Canyon rock art is typified by large front-facing human figures. Most of the figures are colored a solid red by the mineral hematite and some are highly decorated with dots, spirals, wavy lines, and animals. The figures usually lack arms or legs. Figures with arms often hold plants like wild grasses, or snakes. Dogs and birds are sometimes painted near the human figures.

Barrier Canyon rock art was created by Archaic hunter-gatherers during 1,000-2,000 B.C. Clay figurines found in Early Archaic archaeological sites resemble the long, tapering bodies and rounded shoulders of the rock art. However the clay figures date several thousand years earlier. Split-twig figurines are also associated with Barrier Canyon rock art. While the figurines or the rock art mean remains a mystery.

For the academic minded, there is a great paper on the age of the Great Gallery.

Maps

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