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Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park: Horseshoe Canyon

This 7.1-miler in redrock country showcases art you'll never see in a big-city gallery--some of the world's best-preserved pictographs and petroglyphs.

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 11.4

Waypoints

HCT001

Location: 38.473902, -110.200467

Hike south from the trailhead.

HCT002

Location: 38.469582, -110.199799

Continue S; prepare for nonstop 600-ft. descent. In .5 mi., trail gently rounds to N

HCT003

Location: 38.466182, -110.197088

Hike through ankle-deep sand on .4-mi. descent to canyon floor; watch for cairns

HCT004

Location: 38.466556, -110.194947

Travel S along flat canyon bottom bordered by massive redrock cliffs

HCT005

Location: 38.466148, -110.194813

Continue straight at three-way.

HCT006

Location: 38.464082, -110.194759

Pass a side canyon.

HCT007

Location: 38.461368, -110.197656

High Gallery: Climb a sandy slope to the base of the cliffs to view the pictographs. Leave No Trace: Do not touch or remove archeological objects; it’s against the law. Take photos only

HCT008

Location: 38.462024, -110.199201

Horseshoe Shelter: Walls are covered with rock art painted by nomadic tribes 3,000 yrs. ago. Some intricate panels stand 6 ft. tall and show humans, ghostlike figures, and animals.

HCT009

Location: 38.458682, -110.203767

Canyon winds to the S; cottonwoods provide shade

HCT010

Location: 38.455706, -110.205789

Alcove Gallery: More artwork in this area

HCT011

Location: 38.45206, -110.205746

Follow redrock corridor to W

HCT012

Location: 38.44717, -110.210297

Round bend, then head W

HCT013

Location: 38.446867, -110.213106

Great Gallery: More life-sized pictographs and petroglyphs on a giant rock canvas. Return to trailhead

Horseshoe Canyon

Location: 38.466577, -110.194867

©Mike Trottier

Pictographs

Location: 38.462015, -110.199008

©Mike Trottier

The Shelter

Location: 38.46194, -110.198922

©Mike Trottier

The Great Gallery

Location: 38.446951, -110.21287

©Mike Trottier

The Great Gallery

Location: 38.4468, -110.21287

©Mike Trottier

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