Ranger Tales
Petroglyph Panel

Petroglyph Panel

The story

Two wooden boardwalks at the foot of the cliff give the only access to the Fruita petroglyphs, with two free fixed binoculars for a closer view. The shorter boardwalk shows large human figures and bighorn sheep. The longer one runs nearer the rock, where the images are harder to see under a dark patina, and the park notes that the longer you look, the more you'll notice. What stands out depends on the time of day. Most visits take between five and thirty minutes. The cliffs and talus north of the highway, from the schoolhouse to the Hickman Bridge trailhead, are closed to entry, so the boards are the visit. A second clip plays on the short boardwalk, and it explains the words used for the people who made these images.

Just ahead on your left, the petroglyphs, so pull in. If I stop when the car stops, tap play. The people archeologists call the Fremont made these. There are two boardwalks and free binoculars. The cliffs behind are closed, so stay on the boards. Walk the short one now. I'll meet you there.

Photo: NPS · Public domain (U.S. Government work)

Good to know
Where is Petroglyph Panel?
Petroglyph Panel. Two wooden boardwalks at the foot of the cliff give the only access to the Fruita petroglyphs, with two free fixed binoculars for a closer view. The shorter boardwalk shows large human figures and bighorn sheep. The lon…
Is there an audio tour of Petroglyph Panel?
Yes — Petroglyph Panel is a stop on the Capitol Reef National Park: The Waterpocket Fold self-guided audio tour. The story plays automatically by GPS as you drive there, and works offline. Get the free Ranger Tales app on iPhone or Android.
🎧 Get the tour

Hear Petroglyph Panel's story on the drive

Download the tour, leave your phone in your pocket, and let it play itself as you go. Works offline.

Buy the self-guided tour, or get it in the app.