The Sand Island rock art panel is an impressive rock wall that stretches more than 100 yards, and is covered with ancient Anasazi petroglyphs estimated to be anywhere from 800 to 2,500 years old. This large panel, unlike many others in the southwest, is easily acessed by car as it sits just above the Sand Island Campground, a well-marked BLM site on the banks of the San Juan river just southwest of Bluff. (The campground is a major launching spot for rafting trips). The panel is protected by a fence and is accessed by a short, quarter-or-so mile long trail.
When you study the panel up close (making sure you look, but don’t touch) you’ll find images that span nearly the whole time humans were known to inhabit the Four Corners — Anasazi markings from the early Basketmaker period through the Pueblo III period, and, more recently, records from Ute and Navajo people. Etched onto the rock are geometric patterns and shapes, human figures, several types of animals and numerous Kokopellis — the icons of rock art. Based on the sheer number and variety of petroglyphs, experts believe this panel held special significance among ancient people.
To find the site, drive about 4 miles west of the town of Bluff, Utah on US191 to a large sign marking the turnoff for the Sand Island Boat Launch and Campground. Drive down the road and take the dirt road to the left towards Loop A of the campground. Parking is available just past the Ranger Station near the restroom. There is no charge just to visit the site unless you plan on camping or inadvertently park at one of the campsites.
From the parking area follow the road on into Loop A for several hundred feet. The trail is to the right of the campsite at the end of the road. From there follow the trail east along the black desert-varnished cliffs and after another 100 feet or so you will come to a trail kiosk that contains a wealth of information that is well worth studying before continuing, information that will greatly enhance your visit. Simply stroll at you leisure and enjoy.
To log this cache: simply include either a photo of you with some portion of the panel in the background, or as an alternative, a photo of something showing your geocaching name and the date of your visit with whatever art panel you found interesting reflected in the background.
Should you enjoy this panel; Newspaper Rock (GC5H9TV) is located about 75 miles north on a paved road within Canyonlands National Park and 9 Mile Canyon Road (GCGPVJ) is a 40 mile stretch of beautiful scenery about 200 miles north near Wellington, Utah that contains hundreds of rock art panels exhibiting thousands of petroglyphs and pictographs, a site known as the worlds largest outdoor art gallery, A road log of all the sites on 9 Mile Canyon Road can be accessed at:https://www.climb-utah.com/Misc/ninemile.htm
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025. This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.