Staring up at the faded orange figures on the shaded stone wall, I felt myself being pulled back in time. Humanlike forms, painted in reddish-brown pigment centuries ago, emerged from the weathered rock. Who were they meant to represent? What story were the Fremont people telling? And what lessons, if any, can we draw from them today? Ancient rock-art panels are rare along the Wasatch Front. But in a narrow canyon carved into the western foothills of the range, a series of twisting ravines follow creeks deep up and into the mountains. Hidden within Parrish Creek Canyon is a spectacular pictograph panel, a fragile message from people who once knew this landscape intimately. I knew it would be a short hike — only four-tenths of a mile to the panel. But trail reviews had prepared me for a sketchy approach after the bridge: a singletrack trail slanting generously toward the creek, a jungle of thick vegetation and lush stands of knee-high poison ivy. Then there were the rattlesnakes. No, I did not see any. But I came prepared. It was a glorious Sunday morning as I started from the Parrish Creek Trailhead in Centerville. The first hundred yards climbed to a plateau, where a gentle trail led into the canyon. Before long, the canyon walls blocked the sun’s warming rays, and the air cooled as I walked deeper into the shade. Yellow goldenasters bloomed along the trail as I headed briskly toward the sound of rushing water. A wooden bridge spanned Parrish Creek, offering a respite from the growing heat of the day. Now halfway to the pictograph panel, I took a short break before continuing onto the singletrack trail. Using my poles to push aside the vegetation, I soon came to a gorgeous little waterfall, where a small but powerful stream rushed over an 8-foot drop. I pushed onward as the track narrowed and the vegetation grew denser. Before long, the trail emerged into an opening beneath a rock face, where the route climbed to a higher ledge. A rope had been conveniently placed to help hikers scale a gigantic boulder. I grabbed hold and put my trust in whoever had secured it who knows how many years ago. Unlike petroglyphs, which were carved into the rock, this pictograph panel was created with pigment from hematite, with the rock serving as the canvas. The Parrish Creek pictographs are generally considered work of the Fremont people, 700-1,300 years ago. What’s rare is a pictograph panel that has stood that many centuries. The Parrish Creek location is on a south-facing wall with a ledge above, providing some amount of shelter. The images were painted onto a stunning landscape, an altar of sorts, in the lush canyon. Some of the paintings meshed with the mineral veins that formed their own mosaic in the rock. At first, you see blobs of brownish red. But soon you can see distinctive characters of hunters and animals. And on this artist’s canvas, you are taken back many centuries before outsiders found Utah. Anytime you stand in the presence of ancient rock art, there is an emotional weight to the experience. The figures may be faded, but the human impulse behind them stands the test of time — the desire of people to record stories, mark a place, or leave something meaningful behind for generations to come in the future. DETAILS Getting There It’s a 45-minute drive from Park City to the Parrish Creek Trailhead (Google Maps) in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, with plenty of parking. There are many good trail guides, including AllTrails, Road Trip Ryan, and Climb-Utah. When to Go While most of the trail is shaded, the earlier the better. I hit the trail at 9:30 a.m. with temps around 85. It was pleasant, mostly in the shade. Cautions The walk to the bridge is completely family friendly. And there’s a loop to bring you back. If you want to push on to the waterfall or pictographs, come prepared. Take the singletrack trail to the right on the north side of the bridge. Hiking poles help maintain stability. Long pants and preferably long shirts are important to avoid poison ivy. This is rattlesnake habitat, like all of the foothills. They don’t want to see you, so make yourself known. Watch where you step or place your hand. Use your hiking poles to clear areas ahead as you move up the trail. Dining Centerville is home to just about every quick-serve franchise you can imagine. The post Sunday Drive: Voices from the rock appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less