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The Stories in the Stone a Respectful Guide to Viewing Petroglyphs in San Juan County
The Stories in the Stone: A Respectful Guide to Viewing Petroglyphs in San Juan County
Carved into sandstone panels across southeastern Utah, petroglyphs and pictographs are among the most remarkable cultural treasures in Utah's Canyon Country. Bighorn sheep, spiraling suns, handprints, and human figures (some more than 2,000 years old) mark the territory of the Ancestral Pueblo, Navajo, Ute, Hopi, and Zuni peoples. These images are not remnants of a vanished past. They are living connections to Indigenous communities who still call this region home, and the descendants of those who carved them continue to regard these panels as sacred. San Juan County is home to several of the most significant petroglyph sites in the American Southwest. Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument, located along Utah State Route 211 about 28 miles northwest of Monticello, features one of the largest known concentrations of petroglyphs in the world — hundreds of images layered across a single sandstone panel spanning centuries of continuous use. Bears Ears National Monument holds additional archaeological sites tucked into its canyons and mesas.
Visit with Respect Every panel is fragile, and every visitor plays a role in preserving it. Please keep these practices in mind: Never touch the images. Natural oils on human skin break down the patina and can erase a panel that has endured for centuries. Do not chalk, trace, or alter the surface in any way. A camera captures everything needed. Stay on established trails and observe from a distance. Climbing on or near panels causes irreversible damage.
Leave every artifact and potsherd exactly where you find it. Removal is a federal crime under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act. The petroglyphs and pictographs of San Juan County are not simply images. They are messages, prayers, and records left by the people who first understood this landscape. Visiting them is a privilege earned through quiet attention and genuine care. Plan your visit at utahscanyoncountry.com or call San Juan County Visitor Services at 435-587-3235
Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum Hosts Annual “Archaeology Day and Art Market”
The Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum will host “Archeology Day and Art Market” on Saturday May 2, 2026 from 10am–4pm. The event is a celebration of the rich archaeological heritage of South East Utah and features demonstrations, hands-on activities, lectures, and guided tours of the ruins. There will be demonstrations in pottery making, traditional Pueblo weaving, flint knapping, carving, jewelry making, basketry, tours of collections storage, and more. These lectures are scheduled throughout the day in the museum’s auditorium: The day will also feature the opening of the Kigalia Fine Arts Council Annual Art Show, the San Juan County Student Art Show, and an exhibit of artwork by students from the White Mesa community. The Artist Market will be a great opportunity to see and purchase work from some of the area’s best artists. Activities will take place from 10am until 4pm. Bring your family and friends and plan to stay the day. This event is co-sponsored by the Kigalia Fine Arts Council. Admission is free. Food will be available for purchase.
