Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument
Park Desert rock panel featuring ancient Native American petroglyphs
Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument preserves a large panel of petroglyphs carved over centuries; tourists visit to view indigenous rock art and nearby canyon country.
Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument is a sandstone rock panel bearing a dense collection of petroglyphs in southeastern Utah. The site preserves a long sequence of carved images made by Native American peoples.
The petroglyphs were produced by successive Indigenous cultures over many centuries; styles on the panel reflect contributions from different periods rather than a single group. The site has been protected and interpreted as an important archaeological and cultural resource.
The panel sits beside UT-211 in southeastern Utah, on the route between Blanding and the Needles district of Canyonlands; the site is reachable by car from nearby towns.
- Panel size and content: the carved panel contains more than 650 individual petroglyph figures created over many centuries by Indigenous peoples
- Access: located beside Utah Scenic Byway 211, with a small turnout and interpretive signs making it easy to view from a short walk
Tips for Visiting Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument #
- Arrive early in the day for the best light on the petroglyphs and to avoid midday heat; the site is an outdoor panel accessible via a short path from the parking area.
- Take time to walk the immediate area beyond the main panel-there are often smaller, less obvious carvings and panels nearby that many visitors overlook.
- Treat the rock as an archaeological site: view and photograph from the path and follow any onsite signage or barriers rather than stepping onto or touching the carved surfaces.
Best Time to Visit Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument #
Best visited in spring or fall (April-May or September-October) when temperatures are comfortable for walking and viewing the rock art.
Weather & Climate near Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument #
Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -9°C to 30°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 3°C and lows of -9°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -6°C. Light rainfall.
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March
March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 1°C. Light rainfall.
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May
May is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 5°C. Light rainfall.
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June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 10°C. The driest month with just 13 mm.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (35 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (37 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (34 mm).
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October
October is cold with highs of 17°C and lows of 3°C. The wettest month with 38 mm of rain.
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November
November is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of -4°C. Light rainfall.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 3°C and lows of -8°C. Light rainfall.
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