Utah Scenic Byway 279 Rock Art Sites
Utah Scenic Byway 279 Rock Art Sites
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
423 reviews
Excellent
293
Very good
104
Average
24
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Bee80204
Denver, CO5,007 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
We were driving to our next stop when we saw this sign about prehistoric Native American rock art and had to stop. Crossed the road and took a look. It was amazing to see the figures carved into the rock. As I stood there I thought about what stories the people who carved the pictures were trying to tell us. Was it how their journey to the area was like? The animals and things they saw?
There are two different kinds of art - pictographs and petroglyphs. Pictographs are painted on the rock while petroglyphs are chiseled, incised or pecked. The pictures were interesting and cool. What was disappointing was the graffiti people left behind. Do stop to admire the petroglyphs and pictographs.
There are two different kinds of art - pictographs and petroglyphs. Pictographs are painted on the rock while petroglyphs are chiseled, incised or pecked. The pictures were interesting and cool. What was disappointing was the graffiti people left behind. Do stop to admire the petroglyphs and pictographs.
Written October 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Todd B
Cincinnati, OH63 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
Short side trip along the Colorado river just north of Moab. Free. Just watch out for people pulling into the parking area while you’re scanning the rock walls. Our group of seven with ages ranging from 14 to 75 enjoyed this stop.
Written June 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ilona
Spring Hill, FL46 contributions
Jul 2022
right there on 279, well indicated by a road sign, many petroglyphs on sheer cliffs - very cool to see, not too far off from the main road 191 in Potash. You drive a little further and will see another sign for dinosaur footprints on a steep small road (almost need a 4x4) so we did not venture there. Were happy to see the rock art.
Written July 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mtzennmaster
Kapolei, HI1,527 contributions
May 2022
It is amazing how many petroglyphs are along UT 279 just outside Moab. Follow the road along the Colorado River and behold ancient art and even Dinosaur tracks. If you are waiting for your "timed" entry to Arches, spend an hour or so and cruise 279, we are happy we did.
Written May 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee B.
55 contributions
Aug 2020
This was a nice surprise as i came upon this during a drive back from Potash Road. Very clear images and high enough on the wall not to be tampered with or destroyed. There are several walls of petroglyphs so be sure to search all the wall faces
Written August 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rhokanson
West Jordan, UT168 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
We decided to drive up this road to avoid a traffic jam outside of Moab, Ames were we're thrilled to discover these petroglyphs just past the Wall Street Climbing Area (we used this as a reference point for Google maps when directing family how to find it)! There is a huge panel with hundreds of petroglyphs across from the small road sign. If you walk down the road another 100 feet, you'll find the bear with 3 hunters (this was our favorite petroglyph). Another 100-200 feet and there is a small section at eye level (just please don't touch them). This discovery was a highlight of our trip!
Written October 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard K
Yakima, WA318 contributions
Oct 2021
We almost did not go to see the petroglyphs and we were both so glad we did. Take the time to drive along the Colorado River for about an hour to roads end. The canyon and the rock formations are great. Plan on spending a half hour or less looking at the rock art.
Written November 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ken H
West Bend, WI62 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
Very cool for this ancient art to have survived thousands of years! So much of it to see here too! Look up when trying to view it because it is no longer at the same height it was at when carved. Much rock was removed to create the Scenic River Byway. Almost looks like giant men or even spacemen are depicted there! Cool piece of history!
Written May 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K9Trainers
Atlanta, GA188 contributions
Nov 2024 • Family
We stopped to watch rock climbers and take pictures of the landscape. I spotted and pointed out some petroglyphs. Then I saw more. And more. They are everywhere and easy to miss. I noticed the nondescript "rock art" sign and realized that most people don't even see them. It was a fun time scanning the high rock cliffs and finding them. I guess I am a nerd.
Written December 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thekansaspyet
Middletown, CT711 contributions
May 2021
This road, that follows the Colorado river up close and personal, has fantastic rock scenery. Along the way we saw rock climbers on the cliffs by the roadside. We easily saw Jug Arch, a potash mine at the end of the paved road, and got to stop along the Colorado river bank. It was a very pleasant side trip on our vacation, and we would recommend it.
Written June 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you see the petroglyths without hiking. I would just like to see some from the car.
Written February 17, 2019
If you go south from Moab on Hwy 163/191 (towards Blanding and Bluff, about 40 miles, just before Monticello, is Hwy 211, where you can head west to the "Newspaper Rock Petroglyphs". This is an easily accessible place to view one of the most spectacular petroglyph sites in Utah. There is a parking lot and restroom just off the roadway, and a paved pathway that is wheelchair accessible that goes past the base of a cliff with petroglyphs. Google it to confirm (posting rules preclude me from adding the website).
Written February 18, 2019
How long is this round trip drive? My husband and I are 75 and I use a wheelchair so we would not be getting far from the car. Is there enough traffic that if we had car trouble someone would probably come along. Is there cell phone service in the area?
Written August 24, 2017
The first stop was easy with a larger side median, we found it easily with there being a tone of rock climbers not far up the road.You do have to pay attention to the brown road sings. The first stop was actually the best, it had artwork that spread across the tall rocks.
The second stop (the dino footpring) was easy to find as well. The turn and parking lot was all rock. There was a sign as well but the terrain to get to the art/dio print is very rugged. My family only stoped at the sing "overlook"
We did not find the final artwork turn off. Honestly the first stop was the best part. If I had to do it again I wound only do the first stop.
Written August 30, 2017
I am having trouble finding this road on the map. On Google 279 appears to follow the Colorado River. I can find the Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks and Petroglyphs. Is that the location of the petroglyphs or are the more easily seen on what appears to be a gravel road or turnouts that are accessed opposite from Williams Bottom? Could someone give an approximate mileage distance from Moab?
Thanks very much.
Written April 22, 2017
That's the one - as you leave Moab heading towards Arches - 279 is on the left. It follows the Colorado River on the left (nice views) and it is a cliff on the right. You will go by cliff climbers first and then there will be petroglyphs (also on the right - with parking on the left). Further down - there is a dirt hill to a dirt parking lot where you can see the dinosaur prints in the cliffs - you can also hike up to them.
Written April 23, 2017
how far do you have to drive in before you start seeing them? I went on google maps and put the little guy onto the road and never once saw a sign. I think I went into it pretty far..
Written April 15, 2017
The ride is not that far. The Native American drawings are before you get to the parking lot where you can see the dinosaur footprint. But there are no signs marking the drawings, so you have to keep a sharp eye on the canyon walls (helps to have a passenger do this).
Written April 16, 2017
My mother is in a wheel chair, is this all accessible?
Written July 6, 2016
Great views for mobility challenged folks. I know it's far from your situation, but we took our disabled Corgi in his stroller.
Written July 10, 2016
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