by Michele Kadison

Traveling along Highway 139 between Fruita and Rangely, en route to the Dinosaur National Museum, you can discover one of the most interesting and yet often overlooked wonders of Northwest Colorado. The Painted Canyon is a testimonial to both the Ute and the Fremont Native American tribes who decorated the over 200 known sites with petroglyphs and pictographs representing the world as they saw it.

A petroglyph is a carving made in stone representing real or symbolic objects. A pictograph is a painted design, often representing the flora and fauna of the region as well as images of people and images of daily or mythological life. Sixteen of the roadside sites are marked with signposts, with many easily reached by foot and others presenting more of a challenge to see.

Some examples of these magical works lie at mile 56, the Canyon Pintado Site that was noted in 1776 by the Spanish Excalante expedition. Here you can see a large pictograph of Kokopelli, the famed flute player from Anasazi myth.

A half mile down from here you will find the White Birds Site and beyond at mile 57.8 you can see the Cow Canyon Site, and at 59.7, the State Bridge Site. Plan on hiking the 40 minute trail at East Fourmile Draw (mile 67.6) where you can absorb many archeological sites and displays, with the Sun Dagger Site as the final jewel in the crown. Another fascinating area is Camel Ridge Site at mile 70.5 where you will see many abstract paintings just 250 yards from the roadside.

White Birds

There are many captivating sites along the way, where what might appear to be an ordinary rock face will turn out to reveal an etching or painting. Grab a brochure at Grand Junction or Fruita before you set out so that you can fully enjoy the acres and acres of museum quality sites that are often overlooked while traveling to other destinations. Take your time to discover what sites you can and you will be rewarded by a truly artistic glimpse into the Native American perspective.

Directions: 1-70 to Fruita. Take Colorado Hwy 139 at mile marker 15 north through Loma. The first site is Waving Hands at mile marker 53.5.

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