Round Trip Distance: 0.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4790 - 4826 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Chew Ranch Petroglyphs
Fee: $25/vehicle
Attractions: petroglyphs
The Chew Ranch Petroglyphs is a well known site on the border of the Dinosaur National Monument east of Vernal, Utah. Found at the site are a number of Fremont Style petroglyphs.
To get there find your way first to the Quarry Visitor Center in the Utah section of the Dinosaur National Monument.
From the Visitor Center follow the Cub Creek Road for 6 miles and turn right, just after crossing the Green River, at the Cub Creek sign #9.
There is a private property sign at this point with another sign explaining the public access and reminding you to close the gate after passing through.
The road is a little sandy as it travels the 3 tenths of a mile from the pavement to the site of the petroglyphs.
There is no missing the petroglyphs that are protected by a lodge pole fence with signs reminding visitors not to touch the images or add any markings of their own.
Beginning on the left there are some concentric circles that may have been part of a solar calendar. This photo was taken a few days before the summer solstice. Notice how the afternoon shadow cuts through the middle of one of the concentric circles.
One of the next group of images is a large Fremont style figure and a few elk with large tree like antlers. The Fremont figure also has deer or elk like antlers of its own.
Older style images including this anthropomorphic figure and a couple of bear paws are present but less noticeable.
Further along the cliff are some more anthropomorphic figures with long antennae and faces reminiscent of the Glen Canyon style.
This tall figure appears to be holding a sheep whose snout is extended to perhaps form its arm.
The other sheep around the feet of the central figure appear to have their gaze concentrated on it.
A little further down the face of the cliff there is this sheep impaled by a spear or arrow.
Here is another Fremont figure with a number of concentric circles.
