There is a $5 fee for a group of any size to visit. The variety, quality and size of these petroglyphs make them one of the most important records of an ancient culture that has survived. Some of the more famous of the petroglyphs feature a bit of blood and gore as well as peaceful pastoral scenes. The Fremont are distinguished from some of the other nearby tribes because they were a bit less nomadic, creating semi-permanent settlements where they were known to grow crops versus solely relying on a hunting/gathering tradition.Īlso known as the Dry Fork Canyon petroglyphs, many of the markings here are very large and easy to see. The McConkie Ranch petroglyphs decorate the cliffs along a short but sometimes steep trail of just under a mile. The adventure starts in the small town of Vernal, about three hours east of Salt Lake City. Here you’ll find some of the best examples of Fremont Indian panels located on private property just outside of town.

Part of the fun is in speculating about what the message might be. They could be historical remembrances or mythology. Perhaps they are instructions for hunting or growing crops. Experts speculate that, as you’d probably expect, the pictures were a way to tell their stories. What do they all mean? That’s tough to say, as no translation is available. The figures found in these panels range from geographic designs (that many researchers believe represent abstract thoughts such as “the after-life”) and human or animal figures - sometimes engaged in activities. While some of the art may have originally been a combination of the two styles, the ravages of time have left behind primarily petroglyphs. Petroglyphs are made with some type of tool that removed bits of the rock, while pictographs are more like paintings, made with pigments added to the surface of the stone. The predecessors of these tribes created two categories of images in the rock. A range of pictographs and petroglyphs (often referred to as “rock art,” though the intention of the work is unknown) from each can be found all over the state.ĭescendants from these ancient people now make up the major tribes of Utah: the Ute, Dine' (Navajo), Paiute, Goshute and Shoshone. The last grouping is the Ute Indian Period, from 1300 A.D.-1880 A.D. That’s followed by the Fremont/Anasazi Indian Period, which overlaps slightly from 100 A.D.-1300 A.D. Pre-European settlement in Utah is classified into three main categories, starting with the Archaic Indian Period from 7500 B.C. No matter which stops you make, you’ll find an incredible window into the past.īut before you get on the road, it’s best to find out a little bit more of Utah’s rich Native American history. But you can easily make the trip in reverse order or pick and choose elements that work best for you. To get you started, we’ve put together a sample itinerary, starting in Vernal near the Colorado border. You can spend your time hiking among Utah’s most beautiful landscapes while learning about the people who came before us. People lived in this part of the country for thousands of years before European settlement, and you can see signs of these Native American tribes in the petroglyphs and pictographs that they left behind.Ī road trip is a great way to explore these markings of ancient native history - in addition to seeing some of the most amazing scenery in the country. But take a closer look and you’ll discover that the dusty red sandstone covering much of the state tells a story as well.

Ancient indian glyph