Roadside Attraction Snake and Juggler Panel
Moore
Overview
Sun 45 | 29 |
Mon 40 | 23 |
Tue 40 | 28 |
Wed 38 | 28 |
Thu 35 | 18 |
View Full Weather Details |
Sun 45 | 29 |
Mon 40 | 23 |
Tue 40 | 28 |
Wed 38 | 28 |
Thu 35 | 18 |
View Full Weather Details |
I used to include this as a bonus side trip to the much more famous and often visited Rochester Art Panel. After my last visit, however, I decided it should have a description of its own.
Of all of the panels in the Swell, this is the one I have visited most. Right off the Moore Cutoff road, stopping for a quick visit is irresistible to me whenever I pass through the area.
The panel is most well known for the large snake adorning one of the large boulders at the base of Molen Reef, though there are a few other small rock art panels and more modern cowboy signatures to visit while meandering through the boulders. It is often referred to as the Snake Panel, Moore Panel, or Dry Wash Panel.
On the east side of the site, a 2-minute walk from the parking area is a large sandstone boulder with "reverse" dinosaur prints on it. The prints, with a little imagination or experience, are interesting to see and clearly dino prints. They are not, however, as well defined as many other specimens in the San Rafael Swell and not quite as interesting (to me anyway).
Not far east is the Juggler Panel. Though only a small panel, its position on a large boulder away set off on its own is very striking and one of my favorites.
Getting There
The panel is located off the Moore Cutoff road that connects the small community of Moore with I-70. This road was paved a few years ago. The pullout is between mile post 7 and 8.
From I-70
Take exit 116, and travel north on the Moore Cutoff Road 13 miles to the parking area on the right. This is about 3.4 miles before the small community of Moore.
From UT-10 / Ferron
If coming from UT-10, travel south from Ferron about 5 miles to the signed side road on the left signed Moore. Follow this road 3.4 miles to a T-intersection. Go left (east) here on the Moore Cutoff Road 3.4 miles to the parking area on the left.
Juggler Panel
From the Snake Panel, continue east on the paved road for 1.35 miles to a small side road on the left with a gate. You can either drive the short spur road to its end, or simply walk it (my recommendation).
Route
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, a well used social trail meanders west back toward the gap the road passes through. Several interesting panels are interspersed here. The snake, in particular, is impressive!
As noted above, go west from the trailhead about 2 minutes to a large sandstone boulder with reverse dino prints visible on its top side.
Juggler Panel
From the gate, walk or drive the dirt road a few minutes. It heads north to several large boulders, then circles back and ends. From where it ends, head east to the obvious large boulders. The Juggler Panel is on the east face of one of the boulders. It is easy to spot, and you can see it for most of the hike. A really interesting and stunning panel.
Snake Panel Trailhead |
12S 490418mE 4310114mN N38° 56' 24" W111° 06' 38" |
Juggler Trailhead |
12S 492102mE 4310647mN N38° 56' 41" W111° 05' 28" |
The Juggler |
12S 491999mE 4310808mN N38° 56' 46" W111° 05' 32" |