Newspaper Rock

Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument is one of the most remarkable and concentrated panels of rock art in the American Southwest. Located along Utah Highway 211 on the way to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, this striking sandstone cliff face displays over 650 individual petroglyphs spanning roughly 2,000 years of human history.

The petroglyphs were created by chipping away the dark desert varnish — a thin coating of iron and manganese oxides that forms naturally on exposed rock surfaces over centuries — to reveal the lighter sandstone beneath. The result is a vivid visual record left by multiple cultures, including the Archaic, Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi), Fremont, and more recently, Ute and Navajo peoples. The images depict human figures, animals such as bighorn sheep, deer, and bison, handprints, geometric patterns, and various symbols whose meanings are still debated by archaeologists.

The Navajo name for the site, Tse' Hane', translates to "a rock that tells a story," and the panel does seem to function as a kind of communal bulletin board used across generations. Some researchers believe the images record hunting scenes, migration routes, astronomical events, and spiritual ceremonies, though much of the art's original intent remains open to interpretation.

What makes Newspaper Rock particularly special is its density and layering. Unlike many petroglyph sites where images are scattered across a wide area, this single panel served as a focal point for artistic expression across millennia, with newer figures overlapping older ones. The panel measures roughly 200 square feet, making it one of the most concentrated collections of rock art anywhere in the region.

The site is managed by the Utah Division of State Parks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors are reminded that the petroglyphs are protected under federal law, and touching or defacing the rock art is strictly prohibited.

From downtown Moab, head south on US-191 for approximately 40 miles. Turn right (west) onto Utah Highway 211, following signs for the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument is located about 12 miles down Highway 211 on the left side of the road. The total drive from Moab takes roughly 50 minutes to an hour.

The site has a small paved pullout and parking area directly off the highway, making it easy to spot. A short paved walkway leads from the parking area to a fenced viewing area at the base of the rock panel. The stop requires very little walking and is fully accessible.

There is no entrance fee to visit Newspaper Rock, and the site is open year-round. There are no facilities at the monument itself, so plan accordingly. The last reliable services are in Moab, though there is a small convenience store at the Highway 191/211 junction at the Needles Outpost (seasonal hours).