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Crystal Wash Main Archeological Site
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Crystal Wash Main Rock Art Site
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Crystal Wash Main Rock Art Site
Marker style used in this area

Overview

The Crystal Wash Main Archeological Site (or "Rock Story" site) is an area of desert-varnished, volcanic boulders along a sandy wash and on a gently sloping hillside above the wash. Above the wash, ancient people stayed in the area for long periods of time, probably living here during winters. While here, they flaked stones, built fires, broke ceramic vessels, and etched the rocks with representational (e.g., bighorn sheep and human figures) and abstract images. Back in their time, Crystal Creek probably flowed past the village.

The BLM and Lincoln County opened this area to the public, and Lincoln County printed a brochure with information about the site (including GPS coordinates) as part of their Get Primitive tourism campaign. Download the 57-page brochure from Lincoln County or snatch a copy of the entire guide or just the 3 pages about Crystal Wash Main.

Link to Wide Area Map or Site Map.

Crystal Wash Main Rock Art Site
Crystal Wash Main trailhead parking (view NW)

The route description presented here is tied to the Lincoln County brochure and the 10 numbered sites along the route, plus one unnumbered site that is passed along the way.

Location

Crystal Wash Main rock art site is located in Lincoln County about 110 miles north of Las Vegas on Highway 93.

From town, drive north on Interstate 15 to US Highway 93. Exit onto Highway 93 and drive north past Alamo and Ash Springs to the intersection of Highway 93 and Highway 318. Continue on Highway 93 for 4.1 miles to a large dirt parking area on the left (north) side of the road with a white trash can.

Crystal Wash Main Rock Art Site
Crystal Wash near the trailhead parking area (view SW)

From the dirt parking area, Crystal Wash Main Road heads north, crosses a cattle guard, bends slight left, and then proceed 100 yards to a T-intersection. Visitors can turn right to Crystal Wash Main petroglyph site or stay straight to the old Shepherd Camp.

Hours

The area is always open, but it probably should be considered day-use only. There are no established camping areas, but campers can stay at the trailhead or at the end of Shepherd Camp Road.

Fees

None.

Crystal Wash Main
Directional arrows mark parts of the route

The Hike

From the trailhead parking area (Table 1, Waypoint 10), the route (no established trail) runs northeast about 30 feet to the sign-in register (Wpt. 11), then another 30 feet to Site 1, the boulder behind Marker #1 (Wpt. 12; note that the actual marker has been stolen and only the rebar post remains). From there, the route turns back and heads over to the wash and follows it downstream for about 0.27 miles to a large Half Boulder in the center of the wash (Wpt. 13). Surprisingly, this well-marked boulder (Site 1a) does not have a marker, and therefore hints at the riches to be found off the beaten path.

From Half Boulder, the route turns south to run around the east side of a boulder field, passing Site 2 (Wpt. 14) and Site 3 (Wpt.15). Winding around the boulder pile at Site 3, the route heads west towards tall, upright boulders on the skyline across the wash and up on a low hill. The boulders are Site 4 (Wpt. 16) and make for a good landmark. Immediately to the east of the Site 04 boulders, Site 5 (Wpt. 17) is an unusual site where petroglyphs are on the flattish bedrock.

Crystal Wash Main
Cairns (stacked stones) mark the way though the boulders

Doubling back from Site 5 and continuing northwest past Site 4, the route runs along a wall of cliffs to Site 6 (Wpt. 18), then cross the open area heading north towards the village area. The route passes a shady rock shelter at Site 7 (Wpt. 19), clearly a habitation site with petroglyphs and pictographs, and arrives at Site 8 (Wpt. 20), a remarkable panel high on the wall with several humanoid figures.

Continuing west to circle around to the back side of the humanoid panel (Site 8), the route passes another nice panel (Site 9; Wpt. 21) and then another shelter site (Site 10; Wpt. 22) a bit farther around the corner. Cairns and signs help hikers find their way around the boulders; no climbing required.

Site 10 is the last marked site. From there, the route runs down the gentle hillside (east, southeast) and back into Crystal Wash near Half Boulder (Wpt. 13), which was encountered on the way into the area. The route then runs back up the wash to the trailhead (Wpt. 10).

Crystal Wash Main
Trailhead parking (view NE towards Site 1)
Crystal Wash Main
Sign-in register and Site 1 (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Contents of the register box: sign-in sheets, maps, brochures
Crystal Wash Main
Notes written on inside cover of the register box
Crystal Wash Main
Approaching Site 1; route circles this boulder (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Site 1 petroglyphs on shady side of the boulder (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
From Site 1, route returns back towards trailhead (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Directional arrow: return towards trailhead (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
The route bypasses the trailhead end enters Crystal Wash (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
The route runs down Crystal Wash (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main Crystal Wash Main
Crystal Wash Main
The route runs down Crystal Wash (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Landmark: first big, Round Boulder on north (right) side of wash
Crystal Wash Main
Landmark: Half Boulder in the wash (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Approaching Half Boulder (Site 1a; view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Site 1a, north side of Half Boulder (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Continuing past Half Boulder to Site 2 (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Crossing wash to Site 2 (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Approaching Site 2; note Site 3 around corner to the left (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Arriving at Marker #2 (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
One of the main boulders at Site 2 (view W)
Crystal Wash Main
Another of the main boulders at Site 2 (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Continuing past Site 2 (view SE from Marker #2)
Crystal Wash Main
Approaching directional arrow (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Directional arrow points right (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Directional arrow points right into an alcove in the rocks (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Alcove in the rocks (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
One faint petroglyph in the alcove (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Returning to directional arrow, a cairn is visible (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Approaching cairn; Site 3 is just ahead (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Approaching Marker #3 (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Main boulder at Site 3 (view NW)
Crystal Wash Main
Secondary boulder at Site 3 (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
From Marker #3, directional arrow is visible ahead (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Directional arrow pointing left (view N)
Crystal Wash Main
Directional arrow pointing left (view N)
Crystal Wash Main
Route bends right past directional arrow (view SW)
Crystal Wash MainCairns mark the way towards Site 4 (view SW) Crystal Wash Main
Cairns mark the way towards Site 4 (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Cairns mark the way towards Site 4 (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Avoid walking on the biological soil crust
Crystal Wash Main
Directional arrow marks the way towards Site 4 (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Directional arrow (view W)
Crystal Wash Main
Approaching Marker #4 (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Note that Marker #4 and Marker #5 are adjacent (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Main boulders at Site 4 (view W)
Crystal Wash Main
Boulder 2 at Site 4 (view W)
Crystal Wash Main
Recall that Marker #5 is adjacent to Marker #4 (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
At Site 5, petroglyphs are on the "horizontal" rock surfaces (view NW)
Crystal Wash Main
From Site 5, the route runs back past Marker #4 (view NW)
Crystal Wash Main
Around corner from Site 4, cairn leads towards Site 6 (view NW)
Crystal Wash Main
Marker #6 is lying on the ground (view NW)
Crystal Wash Main
Lots of cupules at Site 6 (view W)
Crystal Wash Main
Pictographs or lichens at Site 6 (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
From Marker #6, the route continues towards Site 7 (view NW)
Crystal Wash Main
Off the trail, but what secrets might those boulder hide (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Cairns lead towards Site 7 (view NW)
Crystal Wash Main
From cairn, Marker #7 is visible on the left (view W)
Crystal Wash Main
Arriving at Marker #7 (view W)
Crystal Wash Main
Petroglyphs and pictographs under rock shelter at Site 7 (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
From Marker #7, Marker #8 is visible (view N)
Crystal Wash Main
Approaching Marker #8 (view N)
Crystal Wash Main
Site 8 is the varnished block atop the cliff (view N)
Crystal Wash Main
Site 8 is a remarkable mix of old and new petroglyphs (view N)
Crystal Wash Main
From Marker #8, the route runs NW to circle around the boulders
Crystal Wash Main
Don't miss petroglyphs on the ground at Site 8 (view down)
Crystal Wash Main
The route runs along the base of the crags (view W)
Crystal Wash Main
A cairn comes into view (view W) ...
Crystal Wash Main
Petroglyphs on the way to Site 9 (view N)
Crystal Wash Main
Don't miss more petroglyphs on the ground (view down)
Crystal Wash Main
More petroglyphs on the ground (view down)
Crystal Wash Main
... but hikers can shortcut through the boulders (view N)
Crystal Wash Main
Shortcut through the boulders; Marker #9 is visible (view N)
Crystal Wash Main
Long way around the boulder; approaching Marker #9 (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Site 9 (view E from Marker #9)
Crystal Wash Main
Petroglyph at Site 9 (view E)
Crystal Wash Main
From Marker #9, arrow points the way towards Site 10 (view E)
Crystal Wash Main
Directional arrow (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Cairn marks the route towards Site 10 (view E)
Crystal Wash Main
From the cairn, Marker #10 is visible to tall people (view E)
Crystal Wash Main
The route continues east past the cairn (view E)
Crystal Wash Main
The route circles right and back towards Marker #10 (view E)
Crystal Wash Main
Route circles back towards Marker #10 (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Arriving at Marker #10 (view SW)
Crystal Wash Main
Site 10 provides nice shade (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Grinding slicks and petroglyphs at Site 10 (view S)
Crystal Wash Main
Departing Marker #10, route runs back through the rocks (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
The route winds downhill through the rocks (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Past the rocks, the route winds downhill past cairns (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Walking back to Crystal Wash on a cloudy day (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
The route continues downhill towards Crystal Wash (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Passing another cairn heading towards Crystal Wash (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
The route wanders across the landscape towards Crystal Wash
Crystal Wash Main
Back in Crystal Wash; Half Boulder is visible ahead (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
A bobcat passed this way!
Crystal Wash Main
Returning to Half Boulder (Round Boulder visible ahead; view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Returning past Round Boulder (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
The route continues up Crystal Wash (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
The route continues up Crystal Wash (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Crystal Wash seems longer this time (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Exiting Crystal Wash towards the trailhead (view NE)
Crystal Wash Main
Returning to the trailhead (view NE)
more to come
More to come ...

Table 1. Hiking Coordinates based on GPS data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Hiking GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Wpt. Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi) Verified
10 Crystal Wash Main Trailhead 662492 4158037 4,146 0.00 0.00 GPS
11 Crystal Wash Main Register 662498 4158044 4,141 0.01 0.01 GPS
12 Crystal Wash Main Marker 01 662508 4158049 4,142 0.00 0.01 GPS
13 Crystal Wash Main Marker 01a 662135 4157931 4,134 0.27 0.28 GPS
14 Crystal Wash Main Marker 02 662128 4157884 4,124 0.04 0.32 GPS
15 Crystal Wash Main Marker 03 662132 4157844 4,125 0.03 0.35 GPS
16 Crystal Wash Main Marker 04 662024 4157823 4,127 0.08 0.43 GPS
17 Crystal Wash Main Marker 05 662031 4157819 4,125 0.01 0.44 GPS
18 Crystal Wash Main Marker 06 662003 4157842 4,130 0.02 0.46 GPS
19 Crystal Wash Main Marker 07 661963 4157906 4,135 0.06 0.52 GPS
20 Crystal Wash Main Marker 08 661970 4157915 4,138 0.01 0.53 GPS
21 Crystal Wash Main Marker 09 661962 4157933 4,144 0.01 0.54 GPS
22 Crystal Wash Main Marker 10 661979 4157932 4,149 0.02 0.56 GPS
13 Crystal Wash Main Marker 01a 662135 4157931 4,134 0.11 0.67 GPS
10 Crystal Wash Main Trailhead 662492 4158037 4,146 0.28 0.95 GPS

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240323

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