Lions Mouth Pictograph Site

Lions Mouth is a Pictograph site about 20 miles west of Cedar City, UT. You get there going towards the town of Enterprise.  This place in one of the lesser known rock art sites in Southern Utah. These pictures you see painted on the wall could very well be several centuries to several thousands of years old. What you are looking at here is a wall under a cliff overhang. People come out here to camp, and they start there fires for roasting marshmallows. The only problem is that the soot from tons of fires is beginning to cover up parts of the pictograph panels found here. It is a shame in a way, because people are not smart enough to realize what is happening. This is a very beautiful site despite anything negative that I might say. The Rock Art here is still very well preserved!

The Lions Mouth Rock Art site is surrounded by dense Juniper, and Pinion Pine trees. Long ago the natives use to pick the pine nuts for food and hunt Jack Rabbit or Cotton Tail. It is believed that this place is sacred. The good thing about this area, is it is still out in the boonies. You have to go off the main road and take a dirt one for  a few miles to get to this location!

Look carefully at some of the strange looking figurines. Then look also at the 6 fingered bear claw painted in red. After you have seen those, look at the thick red line of paint that cuts across the picture! The Pictographs found here out at Lions Mouth are mostly part of one big, huge panel stretching about 45 feet, and then  there is a smaller one at the entrance of the overhang before you enter! I do not know if this is a storybook, or a chronological record. Whatever it may be, it is an incredible creation made by the Ancient people that once camped out under this cliff. 

Look at the three legged figurine in the photo above, it's arms are spread out. If you look of to it's left you notice a small looking little guy with antennas, floating right above the three legged figure. It looks like it is on fire, or maybe emitting some kind of mysterious light. The big figure stands about three feet tall in real life just to let you know the size. Take some time to look into the heart of these sacred images and wander what they might represent. 

It is a journey into the past when you visit Lions Mouth. I come out here alone just like I do at the Parowan Gap. Lots of quiet, and mystery stirs around in the ancient air of this country. Only every now and then is the silence disturbed around this place, when some local cowboy fires off his gone, or a car is traveling past the site on the dirt road about a fourth of a mile. Otherwise, all that is with you at Lions Mouth is Dead Silence and the Peaceful talking wind!

Another photo similar to the one at the top of this page.

This is one of my favorite images out there at Lions Mouth. This might represent a thunderbird, and it could also represent a human dancer too. Also note that this is the highest image in the entire Lions Mouth site which could suggest and be symbolizing flight

Pages in this section

Front Page

The Parowan Gap

Lions Mouth Rock Art Site

Other Rock Art in Southern Utah

Rock Art Vandalism near my home

The Curse of Spider Woman Rock

Links related to rock art and ruins

Rock Art Books