Newspaper Rock is a name applied to more than one piece of stone covered with petroglyphs in the Southwest, but the one found in southern Utah 50 miles south of Moab is absolutely stunning. Why? Utah’s Newspaper Rock showcases more than 650 individual pieces of rock art in a small area that’s easy to visit.
About Newspaper Rock
After a short detour off Highway 191, you arrive at a turnout in the lovely Indian Creek Canyon, walk a few yards from the parking lot, and have the opportunity to feast your eyes on hundreds of petroglyphs.
This Newspaper Rock features one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in the country, with more than 650 rock art designs, including depictions of animals, human figures, and other symbols.
Newspaper Rock Location and Geography
Newspaper Rock is located in the Bears Ears National Monument, along the Indian Creek Scenic Byway in Indian Creek Canyon, 24 miles northwest of Monticello and 50 miles south of Moab. If you’re heading to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, you won’t want to miss this stop along the way. But it’s worth a short side trip even if you aren’t going to Canyonlands!
As you leave the desert environment around Highway 191 and wind your way down into Indian Creek Canyon, you’ll soon see more trees as the ecosystem becomes riverine. Vertical Wingate sandstone cliffs enclose the upper end of Indian Creek Canyon, creating dramatic views as you lose elevation. This sandstone, covered with desert varnish, allowed early peoples to leave their rock art behind.
Newspaper Rock History and Significance
The hundreds of petroglyphs that cover the 200-square-foot area of Newspaper Rock were created by various Native American groups. The first petroglyphs were carved into the desert varnish about 1,500 years ago.
The older art may have been made by the Basketmaker, Fremont, and Ancestral Puebloan people who inhabited this region from approximately 500 B.C. to 1350 A.D. The more recent petroglyphs (which are lighter in color) are believed to have been made by the Navajo and Ute people who still live in the Four Corners area.
Note that petroglyphs showing people on horseback could not have been created until the Spanish explorers came to the Southwest as they brought the first horses with them.
In Navajo, the rock is called Tse’ Hone’, which translates to a rock that tells a story, which is quite appropriate considering the many stories that are told at Newspaper Rock.
Newspaper Rock was declared a State Historical Monument in 1961 and added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in San Juan County, Utah. It is located on BLM land.
Newspaper Rock Petroglyphs: The Symbols Revealed
The petroglyphs provide insights into the lives of ancient people, including stories, hunting patterns, crop cycles, beliefs, and mythologies. Petroglyphs are markings chipped into the dark desert varnish, revealing the lighter rock beneath. They have long been used by various Native American people to record symbols, from spirals to hand- or footprints, animals, and Kokopelli, a fertility deity who is often shown as a humpbacked flute player.
While the meaning of some petroglyphs may be easily guessed, such as a hunter on horseback, some, like the spiral symbol, have a variety of possible meanings. Depending on where it is placed, it may represent a water source or migration, or in places like Mesa Verde, they could mark equinoxes and solstices. It’s fascinating to wonder how all this tells a story from long ago.
In the close-up photo, you’ll notice feet with six toes. While you might first think that’s simply a mistake, archeological research has found a number of six-toed skeletons in Ancestral Puebloan sites. They were often buried with special pieces of jewelry, which may indicate that these people were especially revered, hence their depiction in these pictures chipped into stone.
Visit Newspaper Rock
Newspaper Rock is free to visit and open year-round, offering a small parking area and bathrooms. There’s space for RVs to pull in, but no camping is allowed here. Primitive camping is available further down the road in Indian Creek.
Visitors can appreciate the intricate detail left behind by ancient artists and imagine life in the rugged landscape. Why did they choose this place to record so many pictures on stone? It could be because a nearby perennial spring would draw many people as they traveled through the area, and the petroglyphs could have served as a way to share information.
Newspaper Rock is located on Highway 211, which turns west from Highway 191, 15 miles north of Monticello, Utah. Drive 13 miles west on Highway 211, where you’ll see the signs directing you to Newspaper Rock.
Newspaper Rock Petroglyph Preservation and Conservation
The rock art is beautifully preserved and fascinating to visit, but please do not touch or vandalize them, as they are protected under federal law. While decades ago, visitors could walk right up to the rock, today, there is a fence surrounding them to protect them from being vandalized. The site is a testament to the cultural diversity of the region and an important part of Native American heritage.
Visitors are encouraged to respect the site and its history, and to help preserve the rock carvings for future generations.
Conclusion
While you’re visiting the Four Corners region, and especially if you are heading to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, be sure to put Newspaper Rock on your trip itinerary. Not only do you get to drive along the lovely Indian Creek Scenic Byway, but you can also explore a very different ecosystem from the areas of Utah just a few miles away.
It is quite rare to find so many petroglyphs in a relatively small space that are so easy to access. Newspaper Rock in Utah is worth a stop, as you can connect with people of many cultures who lived in the area thousands of years before us.
