Photo Journey Through Arizona Ep.9- Hieroglyphic Trail (Gold Canyon, AZ)

This entire state is filled with amazing places to sight-see! A short drive to the east of Phoenix, past Apache Junction you will find a small city named Gold Canyon.

Nestled in the remote inner parts of the city you can access the Superstition Mountain range which is where this particular site lies. The trail is extremely rocky so make sure to wear the right shoes.

I headed out of the house just before 7 AM so I could beat the heat and the majority of other hikers. It was pretty hazy off in the distance as the sun had just begun to rise.

One long boi

This area is covered with dense vegetation and you can see why they say the Sonoran Desert is the greenest desert in the world.

You can see the clusters of Teddy Bear Cholla cactus which grow throughout this region and down south through Mexico.

Named for its fluffy and soft appearance, this plant is anything BUT!

The spines are razor sharp and have microscopic barbs that make removal extremely painful.

The skeleton of the Teddy Bear Cholla is quite interesting however.

This monstrosity is known as the Ocotillo plant (Fouquieria splendens) which can grow as much as 30 feet tall. Rainy season has returned the lush green coloration to the entire plant as it sprouts new leaves.

Don't be fooled though, these are covered in one plus inch thorns that are hard as nails- avoid grabbing this plant at all costs.

Yet another interesting looking specimen, known as the Arizona Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus). It reminds me of the Pokemon Diglet who evolves into Dugtrio.

These spines are wispy thin with a slight curve at the end. Not trying to find out how it feels to get stuck by one...

As I get closer to the spring where the petroglyphs are the sun is starting to really heat up the air temp. I am glad I brought my hat, water and sunscreen. Always pack extra supplies just in case!

Here you can see a dead and decaying Saguaro, which was used extensively by native peoples as a type of building material. The inner "ribs" are used as support rods and beams for craftily constructed mud/plaster walls in many Hohokam and Sinaguan structures.

Getting closer to the foothills of the mountain I can't help but stop in awe at the towering Saguaros around me.

They are much much bigger up close!

Out of nowhere as I round the bend I see my first petroglyph atop a small hill. I climb up there to get a closer look.

This one resembles a sun with a halo or perhaps a sort of wheel. At first I thought it represented some sort of seasonal calendar or celestial symbol.

I didn't see anything else for nearly a quarter of a mile before spotting this large stone with obvious holes drilled out. My first thought was it could be a food processing area where grains or seeds are milled. Then after looking at it later there seems to be some sort of pattern here, perhaps it could have been a game or ritual site too.

Smaller more crude symbols begin to appear on the rocks surrounding me. What could this symbol possibly mean? I believe they could have represented various clans or groups who were marking their territory.

This petroglyph is a little more worn and also inscribed onto a rougher stone texture. Another one of these standalone symbols before the main site.

Before the springs, this is one of the more intricate etchings that still resembles the other symbols I just saw.

In the middle of this small canyon there is a pool of stagnant water, completely surrounded by stone walls that have been decorated.

You can hear the insects buzzing around, including bees, dragonflies and butterflies.

Arizona Alligator?! No, just a dead Saguaro carcass that has decayed into an eerie looking display.

I can imagine this spot would have provided the much needed shade and water many centuries ago when this area received more rain.

BEE careful where you step, there are bees everywhere.

Centuries of changing water levels have left their mark on this tiny rock pool.

It feels fantastic in the shade here- a slight breeze soothes your skin as the sounds of nature relax your mind.

The main wall that people come to see. You can climb right up on the rock face to get a closer look.

Various types of four legged animals are depicted here ranging from bighorn sheep to Sonoran pronghorn antelope. They are depicted in herds, perhaps to help tell stories or to show what kind of animals the elders have encountered in other regions.

Many of the petroglyphs have faded over time or with weather exposure.

There are probably countless petroglyphs that have been covered, erased or destroyed over the millennia.

This particular etching stood out to me. It resembles a spirit or ghostly figure, perhaps even a snake.

A single standalone human figure on its own rock.

This is where the drawings get really complicated. They also depict some plants and insects here such as a centipede like creature on the right.

Were these used for education or just for entertainment? Perhaps these were the drawings of bored tribesmen who were staying nearby.

Much of the site is accessible to the average person, just be careful because the rocks are extremely slippery.

This part of the site almost resembles a map. Maybe they were trying to show the surround trade routes and roads?

More images of "cattle" or other 4 legged beasts.

This particular rock has the "robot" petroglyph in the middle. What were they trying to depict here?

Concentric circles on one of the lower stone areas. It appears to be much older than the rest but this could be due to the extra wear from being exposed to water flows.

The way back out was quite pleasant and I thoroughly enjoyed this hike.

There is so much unspoiled beauty out there!

Barrel cactus flower

Thanks again for stopping in to see the latest post in my Photo Journey Through Arizona. Please take a moment to have a look at some of my previous photoshoots :) Have a fantastic day!

Episode 1, Part 1- Montezuma Castle

Episode 1, Part 2- Montezuma Castle

Episode 2 - Montezuma Well

Episode 3- Sedona (Devils Bridge)

Episode 4- Tuzigoot Native American Ruins

Episode 5- Old Mining Town Jerome, AZ

Episode 6- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Episode 7- Camelback Mountain, Phoenix, AZ

Episode 8- Goldfield Ghost Town And Mine, Apache Junction, AZ