The Lone Warrior Pictograph Panel is a point of interest in the central and more accessible part of the San Rafael Swell, Utah on the south side of Interstate 70, about 40 miles west of Green River, Utah.
A high clearance 4WD vehicle is NOT required for access, provided rain or recent storms have not made the roads in the Swell difficult to pass, but off-road travel capability will allow you more opportunities to explore the area further.
Lone Warrior Pictograph Panel
Distance: 0.2-1 mile round trip (hike)
Difficulty: Easy
Fees/Permits: None
Trail map: View a map here
The name for this rock art panel is very descriptive – the Lone Warrior Panel consists of a solitary image of what appears to be a person holding a circular object, perhaps a shield.
While far from elaborate compared with other nearby ancient rock art sites, the panel is worth stopping by if you’re in the area, particularly if you’re visiting the Swasey Cabin as the two are in close proximity to one another.
Access to the site is on a narrow sandy track off one of the Swell’s back roads. The turnoff to the pictograph is marked by a weathered BLM sign.
If your car can make it through loose sand, you should be able to drive all the way to the trailhead, just know that the road is prone to erosion. If not, you can park at the turnoff and hike the rest of the way. The road has little to no elevation gain, but it’s exposed to the elements the entire time.
It’s about 0.4 miles to the trailhead from the turnoff, and then a short walk to the panel (0.15 miles round trip).
You’ll come across two fenced off areas on your right-hand side hugging the cliff face in addition to a few spurs to the right that lead to dispersed camping areas.
At the first wooden fence the road ends and makes a loop. You can park here if you are driving. A foot path continues on the west end of the loop past a fence walkthrough.
The Lone Warrior Panel is at the second fenced off area, only a short walk away from where the road ends (0.15 miles round trip).
There it is, in all its glory – the Lone Warrior.
Or Batman. I don’t know… I see Batman?
Up close the figure appears to be holding something in its right hand, too.
No doubt the image was once made to stand out in bright contrast to the sandstone just as other pictographs in the area, but the way the panel is exposed to the sunlight and the elements has unfortunately faded the lines quite a bit.
In this region you’ll find many Barrier Canyon Style (BCS) rock art sites, and the Lone Warrior might perhaps be one as well.
Barrier Canyon Style designs are believed to predate other local ancient rock art, but even archaeologists can’t agree on a specific time period for this culture’s existence and rock art production, giving a range of approximately 1300 A.D. all the way back to 7000 B.C.
Before you go:
- Best time to visit
Late spring to early fall are the most popular times to visit. Summers are very hot.
- Location + directions
GPS coordinates: 38.85331, -110.80374
From I-70 take exit 131. Go to the south of the freeway. You will need to cross under if you are coming from the east (Green River, Utah). Reset the trip meter at the southern side of the freeway, and head southwest, following Temple Mountain Road.
- At 3.9 miles turn RIGHT at the fork in the road.
- At 5 miles you’ll reach a “T” in the road – turn RIGHT.
- At 6.7 miles stay to the RIGHT where the road forks to the left. Head NW.
- At 7.7 miles make a SHARP RIGHT. Continue NW in the direction of the interstate.
- At 8.5 and 8.8 miles keep LEFT and head SW. (The double split in the road to the right passes under the interstate and leads to the Head of Sinbad Panel (Locomotive Point) – high-clearance 4WD required to access.)
- At approximately 10.1 miles you will reach the turnoff for the Lone Warrior Pictograph Panel. You should see a brown BLM sign for the site on your right.
More places of interest in/near the San Rafael Swell:
- Temple Mountain Mining Ruins
- Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph Panel
- Goblin Valley State Park
- Little Wild Horse Canyon
- Swasey Cabin
- Head of Sinbad (Locomotive Point) Pictographs
- Lucky Strike Mine
My Wife and I had a private tour of the Pictographs in the Swell, awesome memories 👍.
Oh wow that’s awesome! The Swell is a treasure trove of fascinating rock art panels.