Hunter Panel

The Nine Mile Canyon in Utah is a stunning, historical 40 mile canyon showcasing over 1000 panels and 10,000 images of petroglyphs and pictographs. Petroglyphs are carved, pecked or chipped into the sandstone panels. Pictographs are painted onto stone.







The unique history of rock art in this canyon is attributed mostly to the Fremont Native American. The Anasazi and Ute cultures also contributed to the panels. It’s always entertaining imagining the meaning and inspiration behind each petroglyph.

As you drive through this incredible canyon with desert mountain views and high sandstone canyon walls, you’ll find panels petroglyphs assessable off the side of the road or within a short hike.






The Fremont Native Americans inhabited Nine Mile Canyon to 1250 A.D. Along with the rock art, rock shelters and granaries are located in the Canyons.


By the 16th century the ancestral Utes arrived and added to the rock art.

Nine Mile Canyon Directions

To reach Nine Mile Canyon, head east from Wellington on US 191/6 onto Soldier Creek Road, 2200 East, at Walkers Food and Fuel Chevron Station (where you’ll want to make sure you have a full tank of gas and fill up water bottles before entering the long stretch into the canyon without any services!). You’ll then drive about 20 miles on paved and dirt roads to the start of Nine Mile Canyon. The Canyon drive is about 40 miles along.



Driving to Moab? Read about adventures and more petroglyphs in Moab!




Plan a full day to drive, view the amazing sights and take a few side hikes. I highly recommend this adventure exploring art history. I would suggest having a map to help you locate the panel sites on the side of the road; however, it’s also fun to find them yourself. Take your camera!

The Canyon is a beautiful drive!

I enjoyed another great Moab adventure trip ending with an early morning rendezvous capturing pictures of the famous Arches National Park landscape. Enjoy!

I started my morning escapades with a short stroll to Turret Arch.

From Turret Arch, I walked over to capture the Double Arch with spectacularly clear and calm blue skies in the background.

An Arches National Park photo excursion is not complete until one snaps a few pictures of the popular Landscape Arch.



….and another photo with entirely different camera settings plus a unique viewpoint.

On my way out of the park, I stopped at Park Avenue to take a few more of the vividly contrasting pictures famous to Arches National Park.

• Learn more about Arches National Park

Moab’s Corona Arch Trail is a 3 mile round-trip hike over sand and slickrock with rewarding views of Bow Tie Arch, Corona Arch and the Colorado River. You can stand directly under the Corona Arch and it’s stunning 140ft by 105ft span.

The Corona Arch

We spent about 2 hours on this leisurely hike with plenty of stops for photos, water breaks and to take in the views. We hiked in late April where the temperatures were still relatively cool; however, in the summer months, plan for hot temperatures and bring plenty of water.

Hikers of all ages and abilities were on the trail. Cairns show hikers the path through Bootlegger Canyon and to the arches. A rope and small ladder assists hikers climb a steep section. It was fun to watch these active children navigate the rope and smile after success climbing!

The Corona Arch Trail

After the short rope and ladder climb, the you’ll hike across a wide slickrock bench to the Bow Tie Arch and then directly under the Corona Arch!

Bow Tie Arch

Directions to the Corona Arch Trail: Located close to the town of Moab, the trailhead parking lot is easy to access. From the town of Moab, travel north on Highway 191. Turn left on Utah Scenic Byway 279 and travel 10 miles to the trailhead parking lot on your right.

View more Moab Adventures!