Sego Canyon Petroglyphs
- Admission
- Free
- Hours
- Open 24 hours daily (Daylight viewing recommended)
- Duration
- 1-2 hours
- Parking
- Free dirt parking area near the rock art panels
- Access
- Viewing areas are visible from the parking lot, but the dirt paths to the panels are uneven and not fully paved
Sego Canyon features spectacular rock art left by three distinct Native American cultures spanning thousands of years. Visitors can marvel at the eerie, ghost-like figures of the Barrier Canyon Style, alongside Fremont and Ute carvings. This stunning, open-air gallery is easily accessible by car.
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Located just north of Green River near the ghost town of Thompson Springs, Sego Canyon is a spectacular outdoor gallery displaying thousands of years of Native American art. The sandstone canyon walls feature distinct rock art styles from three different cultures: the ancient Barrier Canyon style, the Fremont culture, and the later Ute tribe.
Visitors will find haunting, life-sized, red-painted figures with hollow eyes and no limbs representing the Barrier Canyon style, which dates back several millennia. In stark contrast, the nearby Fremont and Ute petroglyphs depict geometric shapes, hunters on horseback, and bighorn sheep carved directly into the rock.
This unique overlapping of historic eras makes Sego Canyon one of the most accessible and visually striking archaeological sites in Utah. It offers a rare, side-by-side chronological timeline of human expression carved into a quiet, remote desert landscape.
Ratings
attractionVisitor Tips
- ◆ Bring binoculars to get a closer look at the higher, more detailed rock art panels.
- ◆ Combine your visit with a self-guided tour of the nearby Sego ghost town and coal mine ruins just up the road.
- ◆ Visit during the early morning or late afternoon when the angled sunlight makes the carvings easier to photograph.
- ◆ Park at the designated gravel lot where vault toilets and interpretive signs are available.
Heads Up
- ◆ Do not touch, chalk, or deface the rock art, as the oils from your skin can cause irreversible damage.
- ◆ The final stretch of the access road is unpaved and can become muddy or impassable after heavy rain.
- ◆ There are no services, water, or reliable cell reception in the canyon, so prepare accordingly.
Common questions
Do you need a 4WD vehicle to reach the Sego Canyon Petroglyphs?
No, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is not typically required in dry conditions, as the access road is paved for most of the way and the final dirt section is well-graded. However, the dirt portion can become slick and impassable for passenger cars after heavy rain.
Are there bathrooms at the Sego Canyon site?
Yes, a single vault toilet is available at the main parking area near the rock art panels. There is no running water or trash collection, so visitors must pack out all waste.
How far is the Sego ghost town from the rock art panels?
The Sego ghost town ruins are located approximately one mile further up the canyon road past the petroglyphs. While standard cars can reach the rock art, the road to the ghost town becomes rougher and may require a high-clearance vehicle.