Rock Art at Panther Cave - Amistad NRA

[Jim]

I was volunteering at the Amistad NRA last month and was fortunate enough to take a boat ride up the lake (Rio Grande) to visit some Indian Rock Art at Panther Cave (near Seminole Canyon).  WOW!  That just overwhelmed me!  The amazing thing is that this cave is open to the public if you have a boat to make the trip.

Panther Cave entrance from the lake/river:


Panther image:


An entire wall of paintings:


Shaman with fireworks:


Whiskbroom-head under a tassled cross:


There may be more to come... stay tuned.  

[presidio]

The amazing thing is that this cave is open to the public if you have a boat to make the trip.

As it should be. It looks unchanged, except for the dock/stairs, from my visit in 1972. I imagine the chain link fence is still around it, which somewhat ruins the experience, but the site does demonstrate that such places can be left relatively open without harm (and the fence isn't much of a deterrent).

Way back then it was possible to hike up from the lake to the Fate Bell shelter in Seminole Canyon long before it was a park. It was better then...undeveloped.

[tjavery]

That's pretty neat! My wife and I kayaked down to Parida Cave (similar, but less artwork) from the Pecos about two years ago. Panther cave is much further down the Rio Grande from Parida.

[Jim]

That's pretty neat! My wife and I kayaked down to Parida Cave (similar, but less artwork) from the Pecos about two years ago. Panther cave is much further down the Rio Grande from Parida.

You're right.  Parida cave has much less rock art, but it is a much larger cave.  We were fortunate enough to visit that one, too.

[homerboy2u]

Hi Jim, how do you get to Panther cave ?, I heard you could only get there by boat. :?

[West Egg]

Yep, you can only get there by boat (unless Amistad gets EXREMELY low).  I've never taken the trip, but if you put in at the Pecos River ramp (below the high bridge) it's not that far downstream to Seminole Canyon.  Here's what the cave looks like from up top:

[Jim]

Hi Jim, how do you get to Panther cave ?, I heard you could only get there by boat. :?

Yes, Homero, you can only get there by boat.  You can see the boat dock and stairs if you look closely at the first picture in this thread.

[Casa Grande]

I was fortunate enough to take the trip to the caves with Jim.  I have some panoramas of both caves and some pics taken.  I've got so much going on right now, I haven't had the time to get it together enough to post the report and pics.  

The pics and interactive panos were taken for the Park Service for their website.  Here is a flat pano of Panther Cave......I'll get my sh!t together before too long and post the rest along with the interactive panos!  Thanks, Jim, for the most awesome trip outside of BIBE!!

[Jim]

It was a great trip David, and I'm glad you were able to make it!  I'm looking forward to seeing the full views when NPS gets them posted on their web site.

[BigBendHiker]

Great pictures, Jim.  Thanks for posting!


BBH

[Casa Grande]

Interactive View of the Panther Cave at Lake Amistad (high speed users)

the rest can be found here

[BigBendHiker]

Nice panorama, David!  Well done!!



BBH

[Casa Grande]

Nice panorama, David!  Well done!!



BBH

thanks, bbh!