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Willow Springs Canyon Petroglyph (Summary Page)

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This page last updated on 10/11/2017
EFP-P1070713
(Fig. 01)
Area Description: The Red Rocks Wash runs through the middle of the deep, cool and moist Willow Springs Canyon which is surrounded by the east-west trending La Madre Mountains and the north-south trending Spring Mountains. Permanent water is available here at two springs: Willow Spring (north end of the Willow Springs Picnic Area) and Lost Creek Spring. There are seven trails that either start at, run through or converge at Willow Springs. The 1.1-mile Willow Springs Loop trail; the .61-mile Children’s Discovery Loop Trail;  the 0.15-mile Petroglyph Wall Trail; the 1.8-mile La Madre Spring Trail; the .5-mile Upper Lost Creek Falls Trail; the .31-mile Lower Lost Creek Falls Trail; and the southern portion of the 6.35-mile White Rock Loop Trail. Petroglyphs and pictographs shown here were found on both the Petroglyph Wall Trail and the Willow Springs Loop trail.
                                 
Petroglyph Wall Trail: At the end of this short walk there is a petroglyph panel (Fig. 01) containing a dozen images on the open rock face to the right. On the left there is another petroglyph with a complex geometric design (Figs. 02 & 03) and several pictographs (Figs. 04-06) located near the ground under a low rock overhang. Unfortunately, due to their age, they have deteriorated to the point that they are unrecognizable and just barely visible.
                               
EFP-P1110502
(Fig. 02)
EFP-P1110501
(Fig.  03)
EFP-P1070711
(Fig. 04)
EFP-P1070703
(Fig. 05)
EFP-P1070709
(Fig. 06)
Willow Springs Loop Trail: Starting from Willow Springs to Lost Creek down the east side of the canyon, the trail leads a few yards east to some huge boulders (Fig. 07) that has five very distinguishable Native American hand paintings (Fig. 07 & 08), pictographs using red paint. After more hiking the trail eventually crosses the road and begins heading toward Lower Lost Creek Falls. After passing the wooden walkway, turn right at an unmarked T-intersection. From the T-intersection, the trail runs north. About 20 yards out, the trail winds around and under a huge boulder, then quickly arrives at another Native American rock art site(Fig. 09) located behind a pole fence. The overhang at the top of the low rock wall protects the faint red marks (pictographs in Fig. 10) painted on the rocks.
EFP-P1070673
(Fig. 07)
EFP-P1070671
(Fig. 08)
EFP-P1070726
(Fig. 09)
EFP-P1070722
(Fig. 10)
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