"Range Valley was opened to homesteading in 1915, prompting numerous legal battles between Preston Nutter and small ranchers seeking a piece of the canyon. The only two ranchers that succeeded were John Niles and John Darioli. Sadly, Preston Nutter died in 1936 from injuries suffered when he fell from his horse in Range Valley. His Wife continued to operate the corporation until 1951 when Ray "Budge" Wilcox and his sons Don and Waldo purchased the Range Valley property from the Nutter Corporation.
The Wilcox's operated a successful cattle ranch for the next 50 years until the dead of Budge when Don and Waldo divided the ranch. Waldo retained the Range Valley portion until December 2001, when it was sold and transferred to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It was then transferred to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Range Creek Valley was once the home of numerous Fremont Indians and because this remote canyon was off limits to the public until recently, the prehistoric sites are numerous and well preserved. The Wilcox family recognized the value of the artifacts that remained on the land and made sure that there was no trespassing in to the area. Since 2001, State archaeological authorities have been developing a plan for carefully protecting and studying the Fremont Indian dwellings that remain. Archeological interest in this area is very high due to the undisturbed nature of these sites."
-Utah's Castle County Magazine
There is limited public access into this area. Please see below photos for more info on visiting.
(click on the pictures to view them larger)
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| Up bright & early at the top of the mountain pass that leads into Range Creek. |
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| Rock Art |
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| Choochoo |
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| A close up of the rock art in the above picture. |
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| Rock art "shield" |
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| Moose! |
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| Laine telling the group moose stories and why an old coal car has "4 Jenny" spray painted on it. |
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| Rock Art |
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| Rock Art |
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| Rock Art |
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| Rock Art |
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| Rock Art |
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| A dam made out of the old coal cars. |
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| (Wilcox Ranch) |
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| (Wilcox Ranch) |
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| (Wilcox Ranch) Range Creek Field Station |
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| Deluxe apartment in the sky. |
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| Rock Art - Tripod Man |
More info on Range Creek:
- Utah Museum of Natural History
- http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/news/42-utah-wildlife-news/186-rangecreek.html
Outfitters & Tours:
- Licensed tour operator for Range Creek Waldo Wilcox's niece Jeanie Jensen and her husband: www.tavaputsranch.com or call 435-636-5008
- Carbon County Recreation tours: www.carbonrec.com or call 435-636-3702
For additional tour opportunities and other information call 800-842-0789 or 435-636-3701
More articles on Range Creek:
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