It's something of an accomplishment just to make it to the trailhead for Horseshoe Canyon, the remote detached unit of Canyonlands National Park. The road, while by no means impassable (a high-clearance 2WD vehicle can make it across the rugged, washboarded road in dry conditions), is periodically challenging - with dry washes to navigate across and stringers from sand dunes to plow through. The 30 miles can seem more like double that by the time you reach the parking area. When we arrived, a NPS ranger was orienting another hiker on the best practices of entry into the canyon. His nametag said Jim Young, and as we laced up boots and slathered on sunscreen we struck up a conversation. Ranger Jim, it turned out, was preparing to make his way into the canyon himself (as he does every day in season) and offered to walk along with us as we descended 700 ft. into the canyon bottom. Anne and I gladly accepted, basically setting ourselves up for a guided walking tour of the place.

To get to the epic pictograph panel known as the Grand Gallery, you'll be walking about 7 miles round trip across a surface that is made more challenging by its sandy streambed setting. In places it's more of a trudge than a hike. And on your return, you'll have to ascend the steep, rocky and occasionally sandy trail you descended to begin with.

But don't worry - the payoff is worth the effort.

NOTE: for best viewing of pictograph panels, select the ORIGINAL size option beneath the image.