Continuing downstream, a large petroglyph panel, a sort of "Newspaper Rock" with many densely packed figures of varying ages, follows. Some of the figures are very faint. Nearby is a very faint, heavily patinated Archaic Style panel. A four foot high red clay anthropomorph is seen above Round House Ruin. Look for a red shield at Bannister Ruin in a south facing alcove, just before Bannister Spring (7 miles from Government Trailhead, 33.3 miles from Kane Gulch.) Watch for four large Basketmaker anthropomorphs and some smaller Puebloan ones at a site before Collins Canyon. In a rincon just before the side canyon numerous figures are found, including ducks, a Kokopelli, atlatls, and large white anthropomorphs.

The Collins Spring trailhead is two miles up this west-side branch canyon. The trailhead is accessed from Utah highway 276, the road to Hall's Crossing on Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. At the Collins Canyon confluence (mile 36) Grand Gulch begins tending in a southerly direction, however unevident it is to the hiker dizzied by the continuous meanders. The canyon also becomes shallower in this area and hikers, just as did the prehistoric inhabitants, find themselves less sheltered from summer heat. Deep narrow canyons can be quite cool and refreshing on a hot summer day. A shallow canyon reflects sunlight and can be hotter than the surrounding mesa tops. Be prepared for scorching sunshine to take the place of deep shade from this point downstream.

Just below Collins Canyon the hiker passes through the Narrows, another point where the Gulch once carved a shorter path by breaking through a wall and leaving an abandoned creek section high and dry. Some very distinct small anthropomorph groups are found at the downstream end of the old meander, just past the Narrows on the right. The anthropomorphs have linked hands. One group has a bird, another a quadruped beside them. About a mile down canyon past a gooseneck lots of handprints occur on the right. Over a mile further another panel is found on the right. Thirty some anthropomorphs in white, red, yellow, orange, brown and green represent various styles and epochs of painting. Several of the white figures are partially outlined with white dots instead of lines, others are decorated with dots. Three small red anthropomorphs are a late superimposition and appear to be Puebloan. They have stylized heads. These, a few small anthropomorphs and the group of brown figures at the center bottom of the panel are undecorated. The large faint white figures are decorated with dots, necklaces, belts, horns, head attachments, brown lines, zigzags above the head, and solid painted areas. Only two have eyes. Birds are superimposed on several figures as is the brown group of smaller animals and anthropomorphs. Two distinct medium sized anthropomorphs with long, thin necks and round heads have large, oversized hands with three digits. Most of the large white anthropomorphs are armless. Four small anthropomorphs are simple stick men. Several brown handprints and a few geometrics complement the large and busy scene. Wavy dune lines in the sandstone backdrop add color and texture to the vast "canvas."

Within another mile Big Panel, Grand Gulch's largest, fills an alcove on the right (click image for larger view). An array of many pictographs and a few faint, Archaic petroglyphs compose the vast panel. Ravens, long-legged and legless birds, bighorn sheep and other mammals, lines of racing stick figures in side profile, a footprint, atlatls, waving lines, raked lines, circles, possible chili peppers, small solid painted anthropomorphs, outlined anthropomorphs, dot group headdresses, and a quadripartite blue and white circle all surround the two large anthropomorphs, each with an upraised arm. The large, rounded heads on these two central figures are reminiscent of space helmets. One has 28 dots in 8 rows for a headdress. A small red anthropomorph with crosses for hands and feet adjoins this figure. To the right the base of a triangular anthropomorph with a 25 dot headdress and three elongated fingers is connected to the head of another. Most of the panel was painted in white. Blue, browns and reds were also employed.

Here follows a view across canyon, looking in an easterly direction from the panel area, and another panel detail.