Located on private property, the McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs lack the marketing support of other Utah attractions. Yet for those who hear about the Native American artwork and visit the site 10 miles north of the northeastern Utah town of Vernal, the visit is memorable. The up-close look at drawings from upwards of 1,000 years ago results in a worthwhile effort of hiking a trail that requires some climbing over rocks along the way.
The blue sky frames the sandstone canvas of the McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs.
Christian Handl/Getty Images
The dirt trail can become snow-packed or muddy at times, but is accessible year-round.
Whitney Yadrich/alltrails
Signs are helpful in pointing out some artwork far above the trail on the sandstone cliffs.
Sandra Kragthorpe/flickr
This hiker provides some perspective of the scale of the drawings.
Mark Byzewski/flickr
Some of the artwork resembles a group photo, long before cameras were invented.
Sandra Kragthorpe/flickr
Most of the artwork depicts people, with some of the figures stretching to 9-feet tall.
Christian Handl/Getty Images
The Fremont culture is believed to have inhabited Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Colorado until about 1200 A.D. Notice the oversized feet of the subject on the right.
Mark Byzewski/flickr
Background information about the petroglyphs is available inside the shack where visitors can make donations.
Sandra Kragthorpe/flickr
The McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs are a Utah Historic Site.
Breck Tuttle/alltrails
Sometimes called the Dry Fork Canyon Petroglyphs, the attraction is supported by suggested donations of $5 per vehicle, collected by an honor system inside a shack near the start of the trail. The dirt trail is accessible year-round. A fun aspect of the out-and-back trail is approaching the artwork from the other direction on the return trip and seeing what you may have missed the first time. Some of the best material comes just before the turnaround point.
Christian Handl/Getty Images
Whitney Yadrich/alltrails
Sandra Kragthorpe/flickr
Mark Byzewski/flickr
Breck Tuttle/alltrails
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs, 6228 McConkie Rd, Vernal, UT 84078, USA
