DARK CANYON PLATEAU, UT

Range Creek, Utah
The Secret Canyon
Land of the ANCIENTS
The Book Cliffs
Hidden Door
Masonry that has stood for centuries

Range Creek has been referred to
as the "Secret Canyon."

These canyons were the home of the
Fremont Indian culture
for over a thousand years.
The mysteriously disappeared about
800 years ago, leaving behind
innumerable clues to their rich history.

Tucked away in an isolated canyon in
Eastern Utah, Range Creek Canyon
was virtually unknown
to the world for 100 years.

The canyon is now managed by the
University of Utah
Museum of Natural History.

Most trekking here is done via
bushwhacking or meandering up some wash.

For peak-baggers or county high-pointers,
this area is a nightmare & a challenge.

Longest continuous escarpment in the world.
Range Creek Canyon Overview
Prehistory
Range Creek has been recognized
as a national treasure because of the
high density of virtually undisturbed
prehistoric sites that have been found.

Nearly four hundred sites have been identified
and recorded including granaries,
rock art panels, ruins and artifact scatters.

Most of the sites are associated with
the Fremont archaeological complex,
a term used to describe Utah's earliest farmers
who inhabited the region from about
A.D. 300 - A.D. 1350.

Based on the results of radiocarbon
dating it appears that prehistoric
occupation of the canyon may have
been particularly intense from
A.D. 1000 - 1175, a time near
the end of the Fremont Period.
The History of Range Creek 1885 - 2001
In 1884, Deputy U.S. Surveyor,
Augustus Ferron discovered a small,
perennial stream in a remote and
unoccupied canyon on the plateau.

He called the stream Ranch Creek.

The following year, Ferron and four partners
renamed the stream Range Creek
and formed the Range Valley Cattle Company.

For 115 years this remote valley along
Range Creek was devoted to cattle ranching.

Geography & Geology

Towering cliffs and steep unstable slopes
make access to Range Creek difficult.
The formidable features of the natural
setting is undoubtedly part of the reason
that the archaeological record is so
well preserved but it also presents a
challenge to researchers trying
to gain access to the sites.
Plant Communities
From the headwaters of Range Creek
at about 10,000 feet above sea level
to its confluence with the Green River
thirty miles and 6000 feet lower,
Range Creek flows through several easily
recognizable plant communities.
Growing in each of these communities
are edible wild plants that would
have been part of the prehistoric diet.
Wildlife
Range Creek is home to a variety
of wildlife species, each living in the
area best suited to their needs.
Learn more about the large & small mammals,
reptiles, Bullsnake, amphibians, and
birds that live in the Canyon.
Archaeological and Historic Sites
It is unlawful for any person to intentionally
alter, remove, injure or destroy
archaeological and historic sites.
While in Range Creek Canyon,
please tread lightly and take only photographs.
If you witness illegal activity take a stand to
protect our heritage by reporting
incidents to the appropriate authorities.

Turtle Canyon
Nine Mile Canyon
Tavaputs plateau

CONTACT

Natural History Museum of Utah
301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
https://nhmu.utah.edu/range-creek


By Phone

Visitor Information
Museum Receptionist
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. MT Monday through Friday
801.581.6927

By Fax
NHMU
801.585.3684


Music By

trac 1
Artist Freedom Trail Studio
Song Always Be My Unicorn
youtube.com/audiolibrary/music

trac 2
Artist Vendredi
Song Fireworks
soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

trac 3
Artist Vendredi
Song Misty Fantasy
soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

trac 4
Artist Vendredi
Song Rooftop Marrakesh
soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

trac 5
Artist Asher Fulero
Song Liberation
youtube.com/audiolibrary/music

trac 6
Artist Vendredi
Song You are Mine
soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

trac 7
Artist Endless Love
Song Natural
youtube.com/audiolibrary/music

trac 8
Artist Vendredi
Song Secret Crush
soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

trac 9
Artist Vendredi
Song Garden Leaves
soundcloud.com/vendrediduo


a looknavigator film

produced by
looknavigator

© 2019
looknavigator

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
7.17.19

Thank You
America for our
National and State
Park Service

credit
Waldo Lynn Wilcox
Range Creek Field Station
Natural History Museum of Utah
SUWA
Tavaputs Ranch
Utah State University-
Eastern Prehistoric Museum
NPS
National Park Service
DNR
University of Utah
Props
summitpost.org
State of Utah USA
Price Utah
BLM, BOR
U.S. Department of the Interior
The Bureau of Land Management


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