Rock Corral | Northern Henry Mountains

Hiking Rock Corral - Northern Henry MountainsRoadside Attraction Rock Corral - Northern Henry Mountains Rock Corral

Northern Henry Mountains

Overview

Sat A slight chance of rain before 5pm. Partly sunny. High near 55, with temperatures falling to around 53 in the afternoon. West southwest wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
55° | na°
Sun Partly sunny. High near 54, with temperatures falling to around 52 in the afternoon. East wind 1 to 5 mph.
54° | 37°
Mon Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. South wind 1 to 5 mph.
53° | 37°
Tue A chance of rain before 11am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
52° | 39°
Wed Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
50° | 37°
RATING: Easy hike
SEASON: Fall, Spring (Winter if roads are dry)
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: None, bring all you need.
Sat A slight chance of rain before 5pm. Partly sunny. High near 55, with temperatures falling to around 53 in the afternoon. West southwest wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
55° | na°
Sun Partly sunny. High near 54, with temperatures falling to around 52 in the afternoon. East wind 1 to 5 mph.
54° | 37°
Mon Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. South wind 1 to 5 mph.
53° | 37°
Tue A chance of rain before 11am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
52° | 39°
Wed Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
50° | 37°
Spring wild flowers driving to the trailhead.
Spring wild flowers driving to the trailhead.

Tucked up near the northern Henry Mountains, along the transition zone between the mountain and desert environments, is the Rock Corral. This natural feature creates a rock "corral" that ranchers used and closed with a log fence to contain animals. Long before ranchers, however, Native Americans also used the area. Signs of their time at the site are found in petroglyphs they left behind, as well as one of the largest concentration of grinding areas I have seen. I assume the ancient peoples collected grasses and seeds from the surrounding environment and processed them at the site. To my very untrained eye, the rock art appeared to be older than many of the other sites I have seen in the area.

It is an interesting place to visit. In addition to the rock art and grinding sites, we enjoyed poking around the area in general. There is an immense alcove that has partially collapsed, creating a dark cave area, as well as big views of the deserts to the north and San Rafael Swell in the distance. This is an area with a lot of slick rock and nooks and crannies to check out! We spent a fair bit of a day here, and wished we had more time.

The Rock Corral and old fence near the trailhead.
The Rock Corral and old fence near the trailhead.

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