Nine Mile
The World's Longest Art Gallery
At the Southern end of Duchesne County in Northeast Utah lays one of the great paleontological showcases in the inter-mountain west, Nine Mile Canyon.
Nine Mile Canyon abounds with art, cliff side granaries of ancient cultures and remnants of complete villages from the Fremont culture which once inhabited the canyon.
A full day should be allowed in planning so visitors will have the chance to explore by road and to allow time for short loop hikes to the various art panels.
While in Nine Mile Canyon, remember to touch nothing, take only photographs and let the solitude and isolation sink into your group. This is a speckal land, sacred to many, and special to all.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?
The high desert setting of the canyon means there is little rainfall, though summers can have isolated and intense thunderstorms. Winters can produce snow which may make some ares icy. Spring and fall are beautiful times to visit the canyon.
ARE THERE AMENITIES?
There are no facilities or gas stations in the canyon bottom and drivers are encouraged to fill their tanks before making the trip. Cottonwood Glen Rest Area offers picnic tables and toilets for day use only. Overnighting in the canyon is not an option.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
From Myton, travel west 1.6 miles on Highway 40. Exit on the first paved road to your left and go 0.3 miles. You will reach a back country byway sign and information kiosk; you are on the historic trail headed for Nine Mile Canyon. After leaving the kiosk, travel 1.4 miles to a historic monument.
Take the paved road to the right of the monument. Nine Miles Canyon is 37 miles from the monument. You will enter Nine Mile Canyon at the information guides running mileage of 38.7
IS IT PAVED?
Accessed by a modern asphalt highway, the approach is through Pleasant Valley, just one mile west of the town of Myton. The 45-mile trip is now easily traveled by passenger cars. The final descent into Nine Mile Canyon, down Gate Canyon, should only be attempted in dry weather, however. Check forecasts and gain information locally before driving the last 6 miles into the canyon bottom. While modern stream bed crossings of concrete have been constructed, flash floods can still fill those dips and are hazardous if they are in flood.
Once in the canyon bottom, there are 27 miles of road, some paved and some graded, which take the visitor on a scenic drive through some of the finest paleontological stone art galleries in the west.
THE GREAT HUNT PANEL
The Great Hunt Panel, has been used in publications across the globe and is a nationally-recognizable prehistoric rock art panel.
The Panel includes at least 30 bighorn sheep and eight anthropomorphs configured in a pattern that has been interpreted as a communal hunt.
It has its own parking lot and a short trail takes the visitor to this famous rock art.