Frederick Piercy passed these rock formations in 1853 and was so impressed that he sketched them and wrote that on the east bank of the Weber River they resembled gigantic, somewhat rude statuary in the form of women. During the 1858 camp at Witch Rocks, Albert Tracy recorded reaching the mouth of the cañon, descending suddenly to the bank of the Weber River, passing Weber Station, and going into camp opposite the rocks. He wrote that on July 22, 1858, the basalt rocks jutted upward through the smooth surface of a rounded hill in a cluster so singularly like figures in kirtles and steeple-hats or bonnets that they had received that appellation. In moonlight, with their lengthened shadows stretching above the hill, they appeared exceedingly weird and witch-like. Tracy also made sketches there while the camp rested, visited the mouth of the cañon with Captain Tidball, and returned by the bank of the Weber with Surgeon "Joe" Bailey, who reported that pound trout had been pulled from the water near camp, though not by him; green onions sold in camp for seventy-five cents per bunch.