The Mansard Trail in Kanab, Utah is one of the best hikes in Kanab for travelers seeking both scenery and history. This moderately challenging trail gains about 1,400 feet in elevation and offers incredible views of the Vermilion Cliffs and red rock landscapes that make Southern Utah famous. At the end of the hike, visitors are rewarded with a stunning alcove filled with ancient petroglyphs, making it one of the top petroglyph sites in the area. If you are looking for the bes

Tucked away in the hills outside Cedar City, Utah, Lion's Mouth Cave isn’t marked by signs or crowds, yet inside its opening you’ll find one of the region’s most impressive collections of rock art. Dozens of pictographs—painted in bold shades of red and yellow—span the walls, with figures ranging from animals and abstract shapes to haunting anthropomorphic forms. The atmosphere is quiet and contemplative, a place where natural beauty and ancient expression converge. Trail Inf

Starting over a thousand years ago, Native Americans journeying through the area now known as Parowan Gap paused to carve intricate designs into the smooth boulders on the eastern side of the gap. Over the next millennium, multiple Native cultures, predominantly the Fremont, etched their stories into stone, leaving behind symbols of their ideas, significant events, and spiritual beliefs—perhaps connected to religious ceremonies or hunting traditions. Today, we know this area

The Fish Creek Panel, located near Torrey, Utah, is a remarkable collection of ancient rock art comprising both pictographs and petroglyphs. This panel is attributed to the Fremont culture, which thrived in the region from approximately 300 to 1300 CE. The artwork features a variety of figures, including stylized animals and abstract symbols, rendered in red pigment and etched into the rock face. These images are believed to hold spiritual or ceremonial significance, potentia

Visiting the Temple Mountain Pictograph Panel in Utah offers a vivid glimpse into the deep history of the region. Nestled within the rugged landscape of the San Rafael Swell, this remarkable rock art site features striking pictographs created by early inhabitants during the Archaic Period (8000 to 2000 BC), as well as by the Fremont culture, who lived in the area from roughly 300 to 1300 AD. The panel showcases an array of stylized human figures, warriors, and abstract symbol

The Moab Maiden is a fascinating petroglyph etched into a solitary sandstone boulder perched above Kane Springs Creek just outside of downtown Moab, Utah. The unique figure, believed to represent a female form, is distinguished by its depiction of breasts and long hair—features that are rare in regional rock art. Some researchers suggest a stylistic connection between the Moab Maiden and the nearby Birthing Scene petroglyphs, hinting at possible shared cultural or artistic or

Tucked away in the rugged canyons of eastern Utah, Weavers Caves are a hidden gem that offer a glimpse into the ancient past. The natural rock shelters, carved by time and weather, are not only geological wonders but also hold deep cultural significance. Scattered across their walls are striking examples of prehistoric rock art—pictographs that tell stories of the people who once lived and traveled through the region. The artwork, featuring abstract patterns, human figures, a

The Circle of Friends pictograph panel, also known as the Circle of Life panel, is a fascinating rock art site near Escalante, Utah. It features a depiction of adults and children holding hands in a circle, as well as numerous other pictographs and petroglyphs. Easily accessible within minutes, this panel is a perfect addition to a visit to the nearby 100 Hands pictograph panel, located just 20 minutes away. Trail Info Length 0.25 miles Elevation gain 65 feet Route Out & back

The 100 Hands pictograph panel in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument offers a wonderful day hike that culminates in an amazing display of pictographs featuring at least 160 handprints left by ancient inhabitants of the canyon. Along the trail, hikers will also find at least two petroglyph panels, including the intriguing Shaman & Hunter panel, which is thought to have been created by a later culture. The hike is suitable for all ages, but adults should supervise smal

A fairly easy day hike to an interesting petroglyph panel showcasing a variety of intriguing depictions, including a remarkably detailed carving of an owl and a life-size anthropomorphic figure. Trail Info Length 2.2 miles Elevation gain 320 feet Route Out & back Permit required no Dogs allowed yes Trailhead elevation 4,150' Water filterable at Kane Creek Don't miss the petroglyphs prior to the Owl Panel Hiking to the Owl Panel Hikers can find the trailhead along Kane Creek R

Stretching from its intersection with Rt 191 to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Rt 211 hosts the stunning Indian Creek Corridor Scenic Byway. The scenic drive showcases towering sandstone formations, such as North & South Six Shooter Peaks, alongside verdant valleys and stunning canyons. Along the byway, hidden in plain sight, lies numerous rock art sites, offering glimpses into the ancient past through some of the more fascinating rock art panels in the ar

Visiting the Poison Spider Dinosaur Trackway site in Moab is a bit of a step back in time. Situated beside the Colorado River, the location gives a remarkable glimpse into the preserved imprints of a dinosaur that once roamed the Earth eons ago, as well as provide access to well-preserved ancient Native American petroglyphs. Irrespective of whether you are an ardent paleontology enthusiast or simply intrigued by Earth's history, a visit to the Poison Spider Dinosaur Trackway

Etched into an expansive sandstone cliff on the eastern slope of Comb Ridge, the Procession Panel narrates a tale from over a millennium ago. It showcases a detailed narrative featuring 179 human figures marching in three distinct lines converging towards a central circle, likely symbolizing a great kiva. The panel intricately portrays ancient individuals carrying baskets and ceremonial staffs, flute players, shamans, and hunters. Additionally, it includes depictions of vario

The Wolfman Panel in Bears Ears National Monument stands out as one of the most accessible rock art sites within Butler Wash. Located north of the San Juan River near Comb Ridge, the panel showcases an intriguing array of petroglyphs. Among them are depictions of birds, plants, geometric shapes, anthropomorphic figures, various animals, and the eponymous Wolfman—a small human-like figure characterized by large wolf-like hands. Scholars speculate that it was crafted during the

An easy to access petroglyph panel portraying numerous images, including a tree that appears to have been created with a rainbow above it. This is an interesting stop when traveling through the San Rafael Swell and is within two miles for the turnoff for the rock art at Black Dragon Wash. Trail Info Length 0.1 miles Elevation gain 30 feet Route Out & back Permit required no Dogs allowed yes but not advisable Trailhead elevation 4,293' Water None Don't miss the pull-off Hiking

The rock art of the San Rafael Swell's Black Dragon Wash offers a stunning glimpse into the past, featuring Barrier Canyon style pictographs attributed to the Archaic Period and ornate petroglyphs and pictographs ascribed to the Fremont culture. The can't pass up site is a fantastic visit and demands very little effort to view. Trail Info Length 0.5 miles Elevation gain 50 feet Route Out & back Permit required no Dogs allowed on leash Trailhead elevation 4,318' Water None Don

The Bartlett Rock Art site is an easy to access pictograph panel near the Island in the Sky District of Utah's Canyonlands National Park. The panel features several bizarre depictions, including one that resembles modern day interpretations of an extra terrestrial. Trail Info Length 0.4 miles Elevation gain 75 feet Route Out & back Permit required no Dogs allowed yes Trailhead elevation 5,401' Water None Hiking to the Bartlett Rock Art Site The dirt road that leads to the Bar

Located along Route 313, a mere 15-minute drive from downtown Moab, lies one of the area's more unusual pictograph panels known as Intestine Man. This quick roadside attraction has perplexed archaeologists for decades with its peculiar design. Trail Info Length 0.25 miles Elevation gain 25 feet Route Out & back Permit required no Dogs allowed on leash Trailhead elevation 4,026' Water None Don't miss the sheep panels east of the Intestine Man panel Visiting Intestine Man Visit

An easy day hike that leads to a unique Barrier Canyon style pictograph panel, located just fifteen minutes outside of downtown Moab. What sets this panel apart is the depiction of a snake within the mouth of the main figure. Trail Info Length 1.9 miles Elevation gain 175 feet Route Out & back Permit required no Dogs allowed on leash Trailhead elevation 4,606' Water None Don't miss the boulder containing petroglyphs and pictographs Hiking to Snake in Mouth The parking area fo

It's one of the most mysterious ancient rock art sites in the American Southwest. Haunting images depicting limbless human-like figures with hollowed out eyes and strange looking antennae blanket the sandstone walls of southern Utah's Thompson Canyon. Formally known as Sego Canyon Interpretive Site, the ghostly figures found here were created during the Archaic period (8000 BC to 500 BC) by artists belonging to the nomadic hunter-gatherer peoples who inhabited the region tho