Rochester Rock Art Panel

Hundreds of petroglyphs are carved into a rock face, the Rochester rock art panel dates back possibly 2000 years

The artwork on the Rochester Rock Art Panel and the adjacent panels consist of a large number of petroglyphs chipped into the desert varnish from the Fremont Culture of various ages dating back to at least 1300 AD and possibly as old as 2000 years.

The main panel has a rainbow-like depiction with a mix of animal figures, a birthing scene, and many anthropomorphic creatures as well as zoomorphic creatures with unique lizard-like ones.

There is more to see here than just the Rochester panel, as there are multiple panels and lots of rock art scattered about to see. You can climb up through a large crack to the left of the main panel to a nice overlook of the Muddy Creek 200 feet below and the surrounding area.

It is thought the main panel collected artwork over the centuries based on the depiction of horses which would date those parts to be newer to when Spanish or white explorers or settlers were known. There are some figures that resemble the Barrier Canyon Culture also.

Unfortunately, there is a band running across the top of the panel where the rock has either fallen off over time or been removed by criminal souvenir seekers over time. You can see chisel marks around one animal figure that is now broken in half.

Interesting things to make sure to look for are the birthing scene, the long vertical line running through the panel, the lizards, and the rainbow.

Getting there

From I-70 take Exit 91 to UT-10 north and drive 12 miles to the town of Emery. About 3 1/2 miles past Emery, near milepost 16, turn right in the direction of Moore for 1/2 mile, then south at the first gravel road to your right; this road has a small sign indicating the panel. Follow it for about 3.8 miles to the parking area. Cars will have no trouble on the gravel roads.

Parking ( 38.906640, -111.195367 )

Parking is in a dirt parking lot

Distance

1 mile total out and back

Note

Moore Cutoff Road Snake Panels are nearby

Photo Notes

The panel is in the sun in the morning and in shade in the late afternoon

From the parking area look for the silhouette cutouts depicting a mule train on the Spanish Trail that ran by here

Route

From the parking area look for the well signed trail that loops around descending to a nice valley between the rocky ridges rising above you. The trail gradually climbs higher taking you to the ridge to your right until you reach a vantage point where you can see your destination off to the left. Watch for some minor rock art along the way, it is signed and you can’t miss it. The last part of the trail traverses the ridge line with Muddy Creek down below you to your right.

A minor panel you will pass along the way

There is a nice overlook into Muddy Creek below you

The panel to the left with the Rochester Panel in the background

A single bighorn sheep carved into the rock face

Explore Nearby...

Hikes...

Furniture Draw Canyon

A hike through a narrow canyon, short and easy, great for families with small kids

Rochester Rock Art Panel

A short hike leads to a boulder on an overlook with hundreds of petroglyphs chipped into the desert varnish from the Fremont Culture dating back to at least 1300 AD

Horseshoe Canyon – Hike

Once known as barrier canyon, it contains rock art that gave name to the barrier canyon style of artwork, contained in four galleries including the Great Ghost.

Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon – Hike

A beautiful slot canyon with two long, extremely narrow passages with walls up to 400 feet high.

Wild Horse Window & Wild Horse Canyon rock art

Route finding across slick rock takes you to Wild Horse Window, an unusual grotto with a huge hole or window in the ceiling.

Black Dragon Pictographs, Petroglyph Canyon & Spirit Arch

Three different sites in one compact area, see the controversial Black Dragon rock art, hike two adjacent canyons to see hidden arches in one and more petroglyphs in the other.

Goblin Valley State Park

The park contains thousands of mushroom-shaped (goblins). You can walk amongst the hoo-doos, there are hiking trails and a cave on the back side of the valley called the Goblin’s Lair

Hiking Beautiful Crack Canyon

A slot canyon with manageable drops, three sections of narrows, and walls that look like Swiss Cheese

Scenic Drives...

Nine Mile Canyon – Scenic Drive

A forty-mile long canyon drive with the highest concentration of rock art in the world, with an estimated 10,000 individual artworks from Archaic, Fremont, and Ute Indians

Buckhorn Wash

Rock art on 100 foot panels. See pictographs painted by the Barrier Canyon culture 2000 years ago and petroglyphs pecked into the rock by Fremont Indians 1000 years ago.

Wedge Overlook

Called “Utah’s Little Grand Canyon”. There are multiple overlooks 1000 feet above the San Rafael River and canyons below you, each one gives you a different vista.