Sheep Creek |

Paria

Hiking Sheep Creek - Paria Hiking Sheep Creek

Paria

Overview

RATING: Easy Hiking
MAPS: BULL VALLEY GORGE, UT;

Wed

Sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph.

64 | 31

Thu

Sunny, with a high near 65.

65 | 32

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 64.

64 | 35

Sat

Sunny, with a high near 61.

61 | 36

Sun

A chance of snow before noon, then a chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

52 | 33

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any, although summers can be hot.
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: None

Wed

Sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph.

64 | 31

Thu

Sunny, with a high near 65.

65 | 32

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 64.

64 | 35

Sat

Sunny, with a high near 61.

61 | 36

Sun

A chance of snow before noon, then a chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

52 | 33

View Full Weather Details
Blue Snake in Sheep Creek

Blue Snake in Sheep Creek

The wide and open canyon of Sheep Creek is often overlooked for its more sinuous neighbors, Bull Valley Gorge and Willis Creek However, as Sheep Creek meanders down from the road, it deepens with colorful and striking walls. The walls, colors, and general scenery alone make this a worthwhile hike. Two excellent rock art panels in Sheep Creek make a great addition to all the other charms.

The panels make a great destination. At about 3.5 miles round trip through relatively easy terrain, this makes for a family friendly outing. The hike can be done any time of year but can be brutally hot in the summer months. If visiting in the summer, get an early start and bring plenty of water. Winter is a great time to visit as long as the roads are passable.

Wide and deep Sheep Creek

Wide and deep Sheep Creek

Getting There

Head south out of Cannonville toward Kodachrome basin on the Kodachrome Basin road for 2.7 miles to the Skutumpah Road.

  • This road is signed to Bull Valley gorge. Turn onto it and reset your odometer. ( 12S 407246mE 4154284mN / N37° 31' 51" W112° 02' 59" )
  • At 3.1 miles, just after crossing a dam, look for a parking area on the left as the road climbs a gentle hill. Sheep Creek is the creek the dam is blocking. ( 12S 405817mE 4149969mN / N37° 29' 31" W112° 03' 55" )
Rock art in Sheep Creek

Rock art in Sheep Creek

 ??Blue sky and big tree in Sheep Creek

??Blue sky and big tree in Sheep Creek

Route

Rock Art and Historic Site Etiquette
Rock art and historic sites are fragile, non-renewable cultural resources that, once damaged, can never be replaced. To ensure they are protected, please:
  • Avoid Touching the Petroglyphs: Look and observe, BUT DO NOT TOUCH!
  • Stay on the Trails: Stay on the most used trails when visiting sites, and don't create new trails or trample vegetation.
  • Photography and Sketching is Allowed: Do not introduce any foreign substance to enhance the carved and pecked images for photographic or drawing purposes. Altering, defacing, or damaging the petroglyphs is against the law -- even if the damage is unintentional.
  • Pets: Keep pets on a leash and clean up after them.
  • Artifacts: If you happen to come across sherds (broken pottery) or lithics (flakes of stone tools), leave them where you see them. Once they are moved or removed, a piece of the past is forever lost.

From the parking area, follow the social trail/old road as it descends into Sheep Creek. This is an easy navigation route, head down canyon! In about 1-1.5 hours (1.75 miles), a side canyon comes in on the right. This is Willis Creek.

At the confluence of Willis Creek and Sheep Creek, a large panel is on the right, just downstream from the confluence. A well used social trail climbs to visit the panel. Be sure to follow the cliff band around and to the south for the best panel.

Blue Snake Panel
The Blue Snake Panel is easier to find on the way back then on the way to Willis Creek. To find the Blue Snake Panel, walk back up Sheep Creek toward the trailhead. About 5-10 minutes from the confluence of Willis Creek and Sheep Creek, look for a tall ponderosa tree on the left. Blue Snake Panel is on the left (south) side of the canyon, under a small overhang behind the ponderosa. An emerging social trail makes this relatively easy to find.


Maps

Route / 3.58 miles / Elevation Range 5,704 - 5,887 ft.
Printable Maps:
Trailhead

12S 405816mE 4149969mN

N37° 29' 31" W112° 03' 55"

Gate

12S 405929mE 4149741mN

N37° 29' 23" W112° 03' 51"

Snake Panel

12S 405645mE 4148498mN

N37° 28' 43" W112° 04' 02"

Panel

12S 405717mE 4147863mN

N37° 28' 22" W112° 03' 59"

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