Intestine Man
Intestine Man
Near Moab, UT
Image by Don Metz @ www.donmetzphotography.com
A unique Barrier Canyon Style pictograph by the Ancient Puebloans who inhabited the region from 6500 BCE to 300 CE. While we can only speculate about the meaning, it may represent a shamanistic ceremony.
Note the anthropomorphic figures with small birds that surround them, which are often thought to be familiars that guide the shamans on their journey. While the main pictograph is though to resemble a person's intestines, it may also represent a snake, which are often a central theme of ceremonies.
Photos and location summary by Don Metz
Trail Difficulty - EASY
I rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The location of this shot is an easy 30-yard walk from the road.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
4,663 ft Elevation
Photography Tips
The image is northwest-facing and needs to be photographed early in the morning before the sun rises above the east mesa or late afternoon when the sun no longer illuminates the pictograph. The highly reflective sandstone requires a polarizer to help the pictograph stand out.
SPECIAL NOTE: this is a good location for drone photography to avoid the need for a long telephoto shot at an acute angle.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the Intestine Man parking pullout
From Moab - Drive northwest on US 191 from Moab (heading northwest). Once you cross the bridge over the Colorado River, travel for 8.3 miles until you come to a paved road on the left called UT-313. Travel on UT-313 for 2.7 miles, and you will see a small (3-car) pullout on the right side. PARK HERE.
From the pull-off, the Intestine Man petroglyph is found on the rock wall about 30 feet from the road. There are two petroglyph sites at this location, with dirt trails leading to both. Intestine Man can be found using the trail to the left and is about 15 feet off the ground.
Google Earth
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 200 mm
Exposure – 1.3 sec @ f 16.0
ISO – 100
Date – Dec 4th
Time – 5 pm
Best Time of Day to Shoot
This pictograph needs to be photographed early in the morning before the sun rises above the east mesa or late afternoon when the sun is no longer illuminating the pictograph.
Best Time of Year
Any time of year.
Lens(es) Needed
The image above was taken @ 200 mm. However, a longer lens (up to 500 mm) would be helpful in avoiding the need to crop.
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
No permit is required.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is northwest around 280°.
Equipment Needed
The highly reflective sandstone requires a polarizer to help the pictograph stand out.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
You will likely be the only person at this location.
Weather
The area around Moab, UT, has a high desert climate with temperatures ranging up to 30° to 40° a day. Spring and fall are nice, but summer can reach the high 90s. The monsoon season (in late summer) brings violent but brief thunderstorms, which can be great for photography.
Cell Service
Cell phone coverage here is spotty - but is better the closer you get to Moab.
Area Guides and Workshops
None