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| - I did my first rock art recording for the Nevada Rock Art Association at Sloan Canyon in 2006. It was my second and third times there but I haven't been back until I went yesterday, 21 May 2013. This is a stellar place to see history with all of the petroglyphs left by the Indians. The rock art consists of about 1,700 figures on 300 panels and they are everywhere when you get into the canyon.
First, Sloan is not a place to go alone. Cell phone coverage does not exist for a good part of the hike. It's about 1 mile from where you park to get to what's called Petroglyph Canyon at Sloan. This one mile consists of walking up a gravel wash and climbing up or going around 4 dry waterfalls. Of course, if there's a chance of rain, stay out. This would be a bad place to get caught in a monsoon downpour. The last dry fall is the one of most concern. There's a chockstone blocking the way, but you can climb up a slippery rock slope to the left. Better yet, backtrack to the top of dry fall two and climb the rocks steps to the top of the ridge. This will get you past the chockstone and will be a safer route.
From here, explore both sides of the canyon both higher up and along the wash. There are rock art panels everywhere. Some of the figures are easy to understand. You look at a drawing of a bighorn and that's what it is. Other figures are more geometrical and there's no one who can tell you with any accuracy what they represent. When I was trained by the Executive Director of NRAF, she said whatever they look to you, that's what they are!
With some money the Conservation Area got from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, the Bureau of Land Management has been increasing the number of trails for hiking throughout the Sloan Canyon NCA. Here, there are three trails. Route 100 comes from where you park and goes to the turnoff to trails 200 and 300. 200 is the Cowboy Trail and 300 goes to Hidden Valley.
As with any desert hiking, bring plenty of water and wear hiking boots for climbing the fry falls. Also, here and everywhere, respect the land and our history and don't vandalize the rock art. Part of the reason I was there yesterday with a team from BLM was to try to remove scratches someone has made on some of the rock art and we were trying to restore it. Be considerate of Nevada's past!! Enjoy the art by photographing it. Don't touch the rock art, trace over it with a paper, or use chalk or anything else to deface it. Oh, and, go and enjoy! This place is a treasure.
Last thoughts, you do need a high clearance vehicle to get here. 4 wheel drive is not necessary. Check the BLM website for Sloan to get directions.
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