Sego Canyon Rock Art

Date Added: 5th Jun 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: A major prehistoric pictograph and petroglyph site with rock art ranging from Archaic to modern periods. The site is located in Thomspon Springs UT about 45 miles north of Moab UT. The route is 100% paved roads.

To get there, take Route 191 north from Moab for about 30-35 miles to Interstate Route I-70. Drive on I-70 east and take the first exit north to Thompson Springs. Continue on Thompson Canyon Rd for about 6 miles. There will be a parking lot on the left with signage and a restroom. There is a short trail from parking to the first set of panels.

Moab Golf Course Rock Art Site

Date Added: 5th Jun 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This is a small Ancestral Pueblo/Fremont rock art panel on a cliff face across the street from a golf course in suburban Moab UT. Its main virtue is nearly drive-up access - the panels are just steps away from the dirt parking area behind a wooden fence.

To get there, take Route 191 south from Moab city center for about 3 miles. Take a left onto East Spanish Trail Rd and drive a mile or so to a traffic circle (roundabout). Continue around the traffic circle straight onto Westwater Rd. Continue on Westwater for about 0.75 miles. The site is at a sandstone cliff wall on the left with parking available next to the fence.

Courthouse Wash Rock Art

Date Added: 5th Jun 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: An Archaic period pictograph rock art site with other more recent petroglyphs nearby. The biggest challenge is finding the site, as it is way up on a cliff face that overlooks the confluence of Courthouse Wash and the Colorado River and the "trail" to it is rather indistinct once you get up on the slope. The entire hike is 1.2 miles round trip from the parking lot. I recommend you bring binoculars (see below).

The paved parking area is right off of Route 191 about 0.6 miles north of the Colorado River bridge just north of Moab. This provides access to a paved bike and walking path. Follow this path east and cross the bridge over Courthouse Wash. Immediately after the bridge, take the dirt path north for about 200 yds downhill until you see an easy-to-miss sign for the Courthouse Panel. Take a right onto this fork and follow it uphill to the east for a few hundred yards. Eventually you will see a tilted NPS signboard on a stand. Stop here, face north and uphill towards the cliff base, and scan the vertical face with binoculars. You should eventually spot the pictograph panel, but be advised that it is very faded and small.

That is your destination, assuming you decide to go farther. There is no trail per se to reach it other than some random paint splotches on the ledges, so you'll pretty much have to find your own route. There are some boulders to scramble around and sloped ledges to climb for about 200 to 300 yds before reaching the panel. A very rough coordinate for the panel itself is 38.6072, -109.58124.

Moonflower Petroglyphs

Date Added: 3rd Jun 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This is one of the most easily accessible rock art sites in Moab. The unpaved parking lot serves both a campground and a day use area right next to the rock art panel. You can likely view the panel from inside a vehicle and disabled access shouldn't be a problem. The panel is literally right next to parking and a very short walk.

Unfortunately easy access usually means significant vandalism and graffiti and this site is no exception, as some seem to feel the need to add their tagline to the panel. The least abused of the panels is right next to a huge crack in the canyon wall that kids often climb up. As you go to the right, the damage increases exponentially.

To get there, take Kane Creek Blvd west from the McDonalds on Rte 191 approximately 3 miles to the site on the left. It is signposted.

False Kiva Rock Art

Date Added: 2nd Jun 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 2

Log Text: This site is a 1/4 mile one way hike up a rocky slope to the base of a cliff, with no more than 100 ft vertical gain.

The trail to False Kiva starts across the street from a large dirt parking lot variously known as the Amasa Back Trailhead, Hymasa Trailhead, or Capt Ahab area. The trailhead is unmarked and the trail often indistinct as it winds up the slope. See the Street View in comments for a photo of the route. Frankly it was easier just to pick my way around the rocks on the way up rather than try to find the specific trail. Your objective is the spot where the tallest cliff juts out to a point on the right. That is the location of False Kiva and petroglyphs.

To get to the Amasa Back Trailhead lot, follow Kane Creek/Kane Springs Blvd west out of Moab Center west and then southwest for about 5 miles total. For much of the way, you will be on the south side of the Colorado River, but eventually the road will turn to dirt and deviate southeast away from the river and then veer sharply southwest again. Amasa Back Trail lot is a large dirt parking area shortly after the southwest turn. The lot coordinates are 38.52829, -109.59634.

Poison Spider petroglyphs

Date Added: 30th May 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 2

Log Text: During my visit to the southwestern US, I wanted to visit a few rock art sites that took a little more physical effort to get to. A little more trail walking or elevation gain than normal. Theoretically these sites would be less prone to graffiti tagging or vandalism, which is an issue at some roadside locations. Poison Spider is one of these more remote sites and as a bonus it also features petrified dinosaur tracks. It is just one of a chain of rock art sites that line both sides of the Colorado River just south of Moab UT.

To get to Poison Spider, take Route 191 north from Moab for a few miles. When you cross the Colorado River, take a left onto Route 279 (also known as Potash Rd) and continue for 6 miles past a few roadside petroglyph sites. Exit right off the road at the sign for Poison Spider Dinosaur Tracks and continue up a steep hill for a few hundred yards, then take a sharp right into a large paved lot with an info kiosk and restrooms.

Take the Longbow Arch trailhead behind the kiosk down the hill for about 200 yds. At this point there is an unmarked primitive trail that veers off from Longbow to the right and ascends the rocky slope at a moderate angle. Head for the dinosaur tracks which look like white footprints on a large boulder below the cliff face ledge (binoculars are helpful to spot these).

After viewing the tracks, head slightly to the right and up slope on a faint trail until you get to a flat ledge and the cliff face. The petroglyphs extend all along the cliff face to the right and left. When finished, you can either head back the way you came or scramble down from the left edge of the petroglyphs until you link back up with the Longbow Arch Trail that leads to the parking lot.

The whole journey is about 1/2 mile RT.

Note: I would not recommend this climb to anyone with severe knee, joint, or balance problems, as there is some degree of scrambling around rocks to get up and down. You can see a fair amount of the petroglyphs from the parking lot with reasonably powerful optics.

Intestine Man rock paintings

Date Added: 24th May 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is a combination petroglyph and Archaic period pictograph (rock painting) site on Route 313, which is about 10 miles north of Moab. To get there, head west on Route 313 to about mile marker 2.7. There is a paved parking pullout there, big enough for 2-3 vehicles.

There is some limited interpretation signage and a short trail that leads in about 100 yds to the cliff face. The titular Intestine Man and other pictographs are to the left along a short trail. The mostly Ancestral Pueblo and Fremont petroglyphs are also a similar length trail to the right.

There are a few large boulders and rocks to wend your way around, but they shouldn't require any serious scrambling.

One plus of this site is that there are a number of other petroglyph sites on Route 313 that you can visit while there, although I had no time to do so.

Newspaper Rock State Park

Date Added: 23rd May 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Probably the most accessible of all the petroglyph sites in SE Utah....once you get there. It is not near any towns of size so prepare accordingly.

To get there, either drive north 14 miles from Monticello or south 40 miles from Moab on Route 191. Then head west on Route 211 about 12 miles to the site. All the roads are paved and there is a restroom onsite.

From the paved parking area it is just steps away to the rock art panel on a flat dirt path. Might even be wheelchair accessible.

One plus: from that point on Route 211 to the Needles District of Canyonlands there are a lot of rock art sites...and the scenery is stunning !

Upper Sand Island Rock Art

Date Added: 19th May 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: A half mile's worth of intermittent ancient petroglyph panels, connected by a trail along the cliff face. To access the trailhead, take Route 191 west out of Bluff UT for approximately 4 miles. Turn left onto a gravel road with signage that indicates the Sand Island Recreational Area and boat ramp. At the bottom of the hill, take your first left onto another gravel road. This road leads 100-200 yds past the ranger buildings to a large parking lot next to a restroom. Unless you are an authorized camper, park here and walk another 200 yds east down the road to its end at the campground loop.

A trail leads from here to the cliff base and the panels. The panels are in some cases fenced off from the trail by as much as 80-100 feet to discourage defacement and further damage. Many are high up on the cliff face and much easier to see with binoculars.

Sand Island petroglyph Panel

Date Added: 18th May 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is one of the better-known and most frequently visited rock art sites in southeastern Utah. The site is a very short walk (< 100 ft) up to the cliff face from a dirt parking pulloff with interpretive signage. The panels are in a relatively compact area, maybe 100 yds in total. And although they are protected by a fence and can only be viewed from a distance, you can still get fairly close for photography as long as the sun cooperates (it mostly did not for me). An overcast day or a low sun angle are preferred as full direct sunlight tends to wash out the images,

To get there, take Route 191 west out of Bluff UT for approximately 4 miles. Turn left onto a gravel road with signage that indicates the Sand Island Recreational Area and boat ramp. At the bottom of the hill, take your first right onto another gravel road. This road leads straight to a couple of parking pulloffs on the right in about 0.25 miles, plus some petroglyph signage. A short trail leads up to the cliff base and the panels. The panels are surrounded by a fence to discourage defacement and further damage.

Bluff Great House

Date Added: 15th May 2025
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is a so-called Chacoan outlier great house near the San Juan River, likely built during the Pueblo 2 period ca. 1100 CE. The site overlooks the town of Bluff UT on a high hill with a stunning backdrop of canyons to the north. It has been excavated in the past and subsequently backfilled to preserve the room blocks and kivas within.

There is an interpretive kiosk and parking loop just south of the main access road (N. Pioneer Drive). The buried great house and related structures are about 100-200 yds north of the kiosk via an easy foot trail.

To get to the parking area from Main St, take 3rd East St north to its end. Turn left onto Mulberry and follow it about 1000 ft until it turns right sharply onto N. Pioneer and heads up hill towards the Bluff Cemetery. The gravel parking lot is another 800-1000 ft on the right.

Horse Rock Art Panels

Date Added: 15th May 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: The main rock art panel is just 100-200 ft north of Route 162 about 0.2 miles east of Bluff. Parking is in a dirt lot next to a corral and a fenced utility building. For the mobility impaired, the panel is pretty visible with the naked eye from a vehicle if you park as far north as you can get and scan the central boulder.

I've been told there are more panels of a single horse and multiple animals behind the utility building fence and higher up the cliff slope.

Ghost Rock Art Panel

Date Added: 15th May 2025
Site Type: Rock Art Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: A mixed modern and ancient petroglyph site about 2.3 miles east of Bluff UT accessible from Route 162.

There is a parking pulloff at 37.282579,-109.505201 and an 800 ft dirt road leads north from there. Suitable for SUVs or lower clearance vehicles (with care). Follow the dirt road north and stay right at the first fork. The road ends in a small turnaround circle. Park here. The rock art is mostly to the left and just a short walk to the cliff face.

You can also park at Route 162 and hike in.

Cave Pueblo Ruin

Date Added: 14th May 2025
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4

Log Text: There is no close access to the site due to a barbed wire fence and wired off gate. But you can easily spot the cave and ruin from a parking pulloff ~ 3 miles east of Bluff UT. There are also a number of rock art sites along the same route west from this point to Bluff. I was able to visit some, not all.

Hovenweep - Unit Type House

Date Added: 14th May 2025
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: I viewed this site at 200-300 yds away from Stronghold House. Someday I'll return to visit this and the other structures in the Square Tower Group more closely. My understanding is that you can get a much closer view of Unit Type House from the trail that circles the canyon.

Hovenweep - Stronghold House

Date Added: 13th May 2025
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Only had time to see Stronghold House and its tower, plus a nearby ruin. Everything else in the Square Tower Group was remote viewing from the edge of Little Ruin Canyon, only due to my time constraints.

Access to Stronghold House is via a handicapped accessible paved trail about 300 yds from the visitor center.

Hovenweep - Settlement

Date Added: 12th May 2025
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Only was able to visit Stronghold House and another ruin nearby. The rest were remote viewing only. See Hovenweep - Stronghold House for more details.

Castle Rock Pueblo

Date Added: 12th May 2025
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st Apr 2025. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This site is accessible via a short 1/4 mile hike on the Sand Canyon Pueblo Trail and is the first ancestral pueblo village site north of of the trail head on County Rd G, west of Cortez CO. There are approximately five other village ruins along the trail beyond it, but I did not have time to visit them.

The Castle Rock formation itself is very obvious from County Rd G but there are no obvious pueblo remains in front of it. Instead, walk the flat ledge to the left (west) around the rock formation and behind it. There is a sign with a short spur trail to the right at this point leading to the ruins.

Salmon Ruins

Date Added: 10th May 2025
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States (The Southwest)
Visited: Yes on 1st Apr 2025. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: This an Ancestral Pueblo Chacoan outlier great house site located about 10 miles W of Aztec Ruins National Monument. It is similar in construction to the latter and was more than likely built by either immigrants from Chaco Canyon or by local cultures emulating Chaco-style great house complexes. It was built slightly earlier than Aztec Ruins.

The site consists of the ruins, a museum, and a heritage park with replicas of Native American dwellings such as hogans, wikiups, and pithouses. I only had time to visit the ruins in depth, although I checked the museum briefly.

The ruins are a steep walk about 200-300 yds down a paved walkway or driveway from the museum. I believe there is also some limited parking available at the heritage park at the bottom of the hill, which would allow closer access. A ruins guide is available to borrow from the museum, and as far as I know there are no print versions available for sale. It is very helpful and I would recommend referring to it during the visit. The entire site is owned and operated by San Juan County.

Escalante Pueblo

Date Added: 10th May 2025
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: United States
Visited: Yes on 1st Apr 2025. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: This is a so-called Chaco canyon outlier great house site built in the 1100s CE. It is accessible via a 1/4 to 1/2 Mile hike up a hill behind the Canyons of the Ancients Museum. Those like me who live close to sea level may want to take it easy with high elevation trail walking at first until they get acclimated. The trail is switch backed with benches, great views, and good interpretation of local flora. The entire route is paved to the top and likely wheelchair accessible.