Utah is home to some of the most incredible natural wonders and historical sites in the country. One such site is Newspaper Rock, located in the southeast corner of the state near the town of Monticello.
Newspaper Rock is a petroglyph panel that features hundreds of ancient rock carvings from the last 1500 years, including Rock Art from ancestral Puebloans and Ute Indians.
Keep on reading to find out more about this fascinating site.
There is no fee to visit this site. It’s a quick roadside stop on your way into the Needles District of Canyonlands.
It’s just a roadside parking lot with access to the petroglyph panel, so it’s open all day, year round.
Newspaper Rock features over 650 petroglyphs that were carved into the sandstone by ancestral Puebloan tribes over 1,000 years ago, and even Ute tribes as recently as the last century. The carvings depict animals, humans, and various symbols and patterns.
Newspaper Rock is located about 15 miles west of the town of Monticello, Utah. To get there, take US Highway 191 south from Moab or north from Bluff. Turn west onto State Route 211 and continue for about 5 miles until you see the signs for Newspaper Rock.
It’s about an hour south of Moab and 30 minutes away from Monticello.
Please respect the site and refrain from touching or damaging the petroglyphs.
I was happy I brought my camera with a zoom lens so I could get some up-close photos of some of my favorite petroglyphs.
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It only takes about 10 minutes to stop and look at the panel, but if you’re really into rock art, you can spend a lot more time.
Rock Art is a catch-all term for petroglyphs and pictographs found all over the Southwest.
I purchased this book from the Canyonlands Natural History Association. It provides areas to find rock art around Moab, but it also gives some simple explanations of the theories experts have about what certain rock art symbols mean.
Of course! It’s one of the most easily accessible places to find rock art in the country. It’s an easy stop into Canyonlands, and it’s also worth the long drive for those who are on a rock art scavenger hunt.
Canyonlands is also pretty close to Arches National Park and Moab. There are so many things you can see and do in the area that it can be difficult to know what to choose.
Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites and still avoid crowds. We have a detailed itinerary for Moab, Arches, and Canyonlands that gives you a step-by-step game plan so you can get to the best places at the right times.
ARCHES & CANYONLANDS TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Arches National Park & Canyonlands National Park, check out our Arches Homepage and our Canyonlands Homepage
ARCHES: Don’t miss all that Arches has to offer including hiking to Delicate Arch, and visiting Devil’s Garden, Fiery Furnace, & the Windows
CANYONLANDS: Visit the different areas of Canyonlands with our easy guide including the Island in the Sky District, the Needles District, and Horseshoe Canyon. Check out some amazing viewpoints, as well as, Mesa Arch, ancient ruins, and Native American rock art
MOAB: Explore the adventurous Moab area including Corona Arch, Gemini Bridges, and Dead Horse Point State Park. Consider taking a jeep ride, a horseback ride, rafting down the Colorado River, or taking a scenic drive and exploring Potash Road
WHERE TO EAT: Don’t miss the best places to eat in Moab, Arches, & Canyonlands
WHERE TO STAY: Learn all about where to stay when visiting Moab, Arches, & Canyonlands
WATCH: Enjoy videos of gorgeous Arches National Park & Canyonlands National Park while learning our best tips for visiting by watching our Moab, Arches, & Canyonlands YouTube Playlist
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