View Petroglyphs along the Capitol Reef Boardwalk
CultureEasyYear-round
Peer through binoculars at intricate rock art panels carved by the Fremont people into the Wingate Sandstone walls over 700 years ago.
Itinerary tips
- 1Pack a high-quality pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens to see the smaller, high-altitude carvings that are difficult to spot with the naked eye.
- 2Allocate approximately 20 to 30 minutes to walk both wooden boardwalk spurs and read the interpretive plaques explaining the Fremont culture.
- 3Park at the designated pull-off located exactly 1.1 miles east of the Visitor Center along Highway 24; no hiking permit or entrance fee is required for this specific area.
- 4Bring a polarizing filter for your camera to cut down on the midday glare reflecting off the varnished Wingate Sandstone walls.
- 5Wear a wide-brimmed hat as the boardwalk is fully exposed to the sun with no overhead shade structures.
- 6Look specifically for the 'bighorn sheep' and 'anthropomorphic figures' which are the most distinct and well-preserved elements on the main panel.
More in Southern Utah Parks
Tour the Hole-in-the-Rock Road Petroglyphs
Scan the desert varnish along the base of the cliffs to find ancient Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan rock art.
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Walk through the ruins of an ancient Ancestral Puebloan village and view meticulously preserved pottery and artifacts in Boulder, Utah.
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Witness the Milky Way arching over Bryce Canyon's hoodoos in one of the world’s darkest International Dark Sky Parks.
ScenicPick Heritage Apples in Fruita Orchards
Harvest crisp, sun-ripened fruit directly from 100-year-old trees managed by the National Park Service in the heart of Capitol Reef.
Family
