Rochester Rock Art Petroglyphs

The Rochester Rock Art Panel is not very well traveled considering that this is one of the great panels of Utah. Located an hour south of the city of Price, the panel sits on an outcropping of rock in the northern edges of what people consider Red Rock Country. There are several different eras of rock art featured here, including the Barrier Canyon style and Fremont work. It seems people have used these rocks to carve out or paint on for many centuries, regardless of being separated by time or culture. The Fremont people were in the area from around 1 A.D. to 1400 A.D., while the people that did the Barrier Canyon Rock Art style predated that culture by anything from 2,000 to 4,000 years. There are dozens and dozens of different pieces of art depicting everything from childbirth to a rainbow, wild animals to ritualistic "demons." and just about anything else you can imagine. This is definitely a fascinating place to stop and check out.

Chances are you will not see anyone else here, so be careful for rattlesnakes and mountain lions that frequent the area. There is a short hike after you park that is only about a half mile each way. The trail starts of to the southeast of the parking area and immediately loops back southwest to head toward the rock art panel. Not too far south of here is Buckhorn Wash, which has more rock art, BLM camping, and great rock climbing.