Valley of Fire hike "Through the Rocks" to Technicolor basin

 This hike of 5 miles with negligible elevation gain (300 ft). Starts at P1 and goes west through the rocks to the other side on the Prospect trail where there are some colorful rocks and an arch. It returns by way of a different pass through the rocks.

Leaving the cars we hike west toward the buff dome where top of the workd arch is and turn right at the the first opportunity after cresting the first low ridge. Then head up toward the Eye of the Iguanna, passing between it and the TOW monolith.

Rock fins

Paperbag bush blooming out of season

Suprise Rock

Small window just before the path through to Prospect trail.

Slot through to the Prospect trail.

The other side of the prospect trail

Bighorn looking at us.

Colorful rocks

The arch known as Morrow Arch.

View north

Same bighorn looking at us

Brenda in the arch.

Red fins on white rock

Desert Marigold blooming out of season

Coming back toward prospect trail wash.

Tight spot in the trail.

Exit slot before entering prospect wash.

Ground cherry blooming out of season.

Sheep looking at us. There were 9 sheep on the rock.

View back toward the road. Virgin peak in the distance.

Shaman Panel

 This trip is to see the Shamans panel pictograph on the north rim of the grand canyon generally south of the Pipe Springs National monument. It is the primary example of a style pictograph called "Grand Canyon Polychrome" Found only in this area and nowhere else. If is difficult to get to without  several proper 4X4's. First there is 32 miles of good dirt road, then 8 miles of potentially muddy single track through tall weeds, then 8 more miles of dirt trail that hasn't been maintained in 25 years. 

When you get to the trailhead the hike is down into this basin to the dry wash you can see in the distance. It is 3.5 miles and 1700 feet down. That doesn't sound especially difficult, but it was! There is no developed trail.

Part way down there was a rock with a roll of old barbed wire hanging on.

There is a large flat bench called the "Esplanade" before the final drop into the wash. All the pictographs of the Grand Canyon Polychrome style are around the esplanade. You can google it and find papers on the subject.

First view of the panel from the wash. It is up on a ledge you have to scramble up to.

On the scramble up, on the right end of the ledge, was a sharpening grove stone.

From the wash showing the ledge you have to scramble up.

Looking back down from near the parking lot.

Driving out,  a rain storm ahead caused some excitement when we came to deep ruts filled with water and no way to avoid them. We started the trip from a hotel in Kanab right after breakfast but got back well after dark. We didn't stop much either. Its about 70 miles from Kanab, the closest town with nice hotels.