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Mt. Irish Archeological District - Shaman Hill Trail South
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Mt. Irish Archeological District - Shaman Hill
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Mt. Irish Archeological District - Shaman Hill
Shaman Hill Sign-in Register

Overview

The Mt. Irish Archeological District is a large area with many boulder piles and low bands of cliffs covered with petroglyphs. Shaman Hill is the largest of the public petroglyph sites in the district and consists of many boulders and rock outcrops on the east end of a ridge. Native peoples etched an extensive array of nice petroglyphs into the rocks. The BLM placed eight numbered markers around the site, and the BLM and Lincoln County each produced brochures describing the numbered petroglyph panels (BLM brochure; Lincoln County brochure).

The parking area between Shaman Knob and Shaman Hill is one of the better campsites in the area (see Shaman Knob).

While visiting this site, please take care of the area and leave it as you found it for the enjoyment of future generations.

Link to Site Map.

shaman hill
Marker style used at Shaman Hill

Location

The Mt. Irish Archeological District is located in the Pahranagat Valley, about 110 miles north of Las Vegas. Details of the location, access routes, and GPS coordinates are presented on the Mt. Irish Archeological District page.

The Hike

From the Shaman Hill sign-in register (Table 1, Site SH-Register), the trail leads a few yards northwest towards Shaman Hill. As the trail passes between two large Utah Juniper trees and the view of Shaman Hill opens up, two small metal signs (directional arrows) on rebar posts become visible. The closer directional arrow is ahead to the left on the edge of the little wash. This sign marks the beginning of the Southbound Trail, which leads left down the wash to Sites 6-8. The other directional sign is ahead to the right near the base of the crags. The Northbound Trail starts there at Marker #1 and goes right, past the other second directional arrow, and follows the base of the crags to Sites 2-5.

Shaman Hill
Second Boulder (aka: Lizard Boulder) at Site 6 (view NW)

Turning left and heading south down the wash from the first directional arrow, Marker #6 immediately becomes visible in the wash at the base of the cliffs. While focused on Marker #6, it is easy to walk past First Boulder (aka: Bighorn Boulder) at Site 6 without noticing it. Marker #6 (Site SH-06) sits in front of Second Boulder (aka: Lizard Boulder) facing northwest such that hikers need to turn around to look back the read the number on the marker and see the petroglyphs. While looking back north, notice Bighorn Boulder behind Lizard Boulder and walk back the few steps to see the herd of bighorn petroglyphs charging across the cliffside.

Continuing south down the wash past Marker #6, another directional arrow indicates that the trail continues straight down the wash. Shortly past the arrow, the trail passes a curiously dimpled rock-face on the right (with a nice bird petroglyph). Just past Dimpled Rock, and without a directional arrow, the trail turns right to head west through the bushes, still following the base of the cliffs. It is actually easier to walk south another few yards (just past the next bush, a big cliffrose), then turn right though bigger gaps in the bushes.

Shaman HillShaman Hill trailhead parking (view W from Shaman Hill Road)

While passing Dimpled Rock, a large, rounded boulder becomes visible ahead on the right, and Marker #7 comes into view in front of the boulder. Standing at Marker #7 (Site SH-07) and facing the cliff-face (north), there are three petroglyph panels on the Site 7 wall. Most of the left panel is not visible from this view.

Standing at Marker #7 and turning around, another directional arrow is visible to the southwest. This arrow directs hikers ahead into a narrow corridor between tall boulders. After ducking under the branches of two Pinyon Pine trees, hikers arrive at Marker #8 (Site SH-08) in an opening between rock piles. From Marker #8, the red wall ahead with bighorn sheep is the main petroglyph panel at Site 8. To the left, on the wall of the corridor near the second pine tree, there is another curious petroglyph.

Shaman Hill
Shaman Hill sign-in register (view W from Shaman Hill trailhead)
The trail ends at Site 8, and hikers can simply follow their footprints in the dust back to the trailhead using the official trail. From Marker #8 or on the way back out through the Site-8 corridor (at the directional arrow) consider turning east through gaps in the Corridor Wall and following along the base of the East-Facing Wall. There are curious rock stories all along the East-Facing Wall out to the south end of the wall. Walking north along the wall brings hikers back to Site 7 and the trail back to the trailhead.
Shaman Hill
Sign-in register (view NW towards directional arrow signs)
Shaman Hill
First directional arrow; Trail South runs down wash (view NW)
Shaman Hill
First directional arrow; Trail South to the left (view NW)
Shaman Hill
Marker #6 is visible from the first directional arrow (view S)
Shaman Hill
Approaching First Boulder (Site #6; view SW)
Shaman Hill
First Boulder (aka: bighorn boulder; view NW)
Shaman Hill
First Boulder (aka: bighorn boulder; view NW)
Shaman Hill
Approaching Second Boulder (Site #6; view SW)
Shaman Hill
Arriving at Second Boulder (Site #6; view SW)
Shaman Hill
Site 6: First and Second Boulders (view N)
Shaman Hill
Second Boulder (aka: lizard boulder; view NW)
Shaman Hill
Two lizards, a coyote, bighorn sheep, ... and a bird?
Shaman Hill
From Marker #6, the next directional arrow is visible (view S)
Shaman Hill
Approaching second arrow (view S)
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Second arrow: continue straight ahead (view S)
Shaman Hill
Trail turns right past dimpled cliff (view S)
Shaman Hill
Dimpled Rock (view W)
Shaman Hill
Bird petroglyph on Dimpled Rock (view N)
Shaman Hill
Bird petroglyph on Dimpled Rock (evening light; view N)
Shaman Hill
Bird petroglyph on Dimpled Rock (afternoon light; view N)
Shaman Hill
Bird petroglyph on Dimpled Rock (evening light; view N)
Shaman Hill
Trail turns right, wrapping around the dimpled cliff (view W)
Shaman Hill
Going to Site 7, note that Site 8 is behind a rock wall (view SW)
Shaman Hill
Marker #7 comes into view (view NW)
Shaman Hill
Approaching Marker #7 (view NW)
Shaman Hill
Arriving at Marker #7 (view NW)
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Center panel at Site 7 (view NW)
Shaman Hill
From Marker #7, directional arrow is visible (view SW)
Shaman Hill
Directional arrow leads hikers into the corridor (view SW)
Shaman Hill
Arrow directs hikers into a corridor (view SW)
Shaman Hill
Directional arrow (view SW)
Shaman Hill
First of the Pinyon Pine trees (view SW)
Shaman Hill
Second Pinyon Pine trees (view SW)
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Arriving in an opening at Marker #8 (view S)
Shaman Hill
Upper part of main petroglyph panel at Site 8 (view S)
Shaman Hill
From Marker #8, hikers can exit through a gap in the wall (view E_
Shaman Hill
East-Facing Wall (view N towards Site 7)
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Petroglyphs (view W)
Shaman Hill
East-Facing Wall (view N towards Site 7)
Shaman Hill
Petroglyphs (view W)

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

Waypoint Location Easting Northing Elevation Verified
SH-Register Shaman Hill Sign-in Register 643186 4163241 5,736 GPS
SH-06 Shaman Hill Marker #6 643166 4163230 5,723 GPS
SH-07 Shaman Hill Marker #7 643145 4163216 5,721 GPS
SH-08 Shaman Hill Marker #8 643120 4163189 5,740 GPS

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

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