Ashley Creek Area
Below Dry Fork (downstream) the line of cliffs and the rock art continues on the east side of and below the confluence with Ashley Creek. The sites are spread over about a mile, and are on private property. They are not developed for visitation. This panel is on Ashley Creek and considered to be Fremont Style.
The Settlement of Ashley Valley
It was the summer of 1776, when a party composed of ten Spaniards started on a journey, their only travelling companions were a few sturdy burros. This was the Escalante expedition from Santa Fe, who were seeking a more direct route to Monterey, California. After many days of travel they came to a river bordered by waving green trees and willows which Escalante named Rio Buenaventura (Beautiful Adventure). It was later called the Green River. After camping on the banks of the river for two days, they pushed bravely on to another area of dry country, not knowing where they would find more water.
They had not gone very many miles when, mounting the summit of a little hill, they gazed down into Ashley Valley. The land was dry and arid, the soil sandy, and the vegetation consisted mainly of sagebrush, cactus and other desert plants. Through the northern section ran a ribbonlike creek. This creek is now called Ashley Creek.
After Escalante's entrance there is no record of the valley being visited by white men until 1825, when General William Ashley passed through, leaving his name to both creek and valley. He was with Andrew Henry, the founder of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company on a trading expedition. With their party was a young man, Jim Bridger, who afterwards received much fame as a frontiersman.
On July 21, 1851, the Uintah Indian Agency was established by proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. Governor Brigham Young also held the office to superintend the Indian Affairs, under appointment made by the U.S. President, and the agency was made in the Uintah Basin. Lieutenant Pardon Dodds was the first agent to take charge of the reservation. He received his appointment in 1867.
