Bartlett Rock Art Panel

Moab North

Overview

( Rated 4.5 / 2 Ratings )

26 Todo Lists / 2 Ticks

RATING: Easy Hike

LENGTH: 1 hour (0.4 mile)

MAPS: JUG ROCK, UT

Sun

63 | 43

Mon

71 | 43

Tue

74 | 48

Wed

72 | 49

Thu

74 | 46

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SEASON: Any, though summers can be hot.

GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear

WATER: None

Sun

63 | 43

Mon

71 | 43

Tue

74 | 48

Wed

72 | 49

Thu

74 | 46

View Full Weather Details

roadside

hike

rock art

dog friendly

family friendly

beginner

access: high clearance

The Bartlett Rock Art Panel

The Barlett Rock Art site is in the same Barrier style as The Great Gallery in Horseshoe Canyon. The haunting eyes, vivid colors, and clean lines of the Barrier Style are one of my favorites to see. The Bartlett site is north facing and must have been substantially larger before the lower portion of the rock flaked off. Though unfortunate some of the panel has been lost to the millennia, what is left is still well worth the short hike to visit.

Note: The area used to be very overrun with ATV and vehicles tracks. The trailhead and surrounding area were restored in 2005 by local elementary students. Please stay on the road and cairned trail to minimize impacts to the site. As of 2019, the site has recovered well and looks much better than before the restoration.

Close up of some of the panel

Getting There

Note: The last 0.5 miles is a high clearance road, but easily walked if needed.

From Moab, head north on US-191 toward I-70. About 11 miles north of town is the junction with SR-313. This is also the road to Canyonlands. Follow SR-313 for 8.5 miles to a dirt road on the right (north side of the road).

Turn onto dirt road MP14 (signed Lone Mesa CG) ( 12S 604296mE 4276276mN / N38° 37' 44" W109° 48' 06" )
0.8 miles - Turn left onto rougher road. ( 12S 603487mE 4277347mN / N38° 38' 19" W109° 48' 39" )
Trailhead (1.3 miles from pavement) ( 12S 602906mE 4276817mN / N38° 38' 02" W109° 49' 04" )

The view north on a snowy February day.

Route

Rock Art and Historic Site Etiquette
Rock art and historic sites are fragile, non-renewable cultural resources that, once damaged, can never be replaced. To ensure they are protected, please:

Avoid Touching the Petroglyphs: Look and observe, BUT DO NOT TOUCH!
Stay on the Trails: Stay on the most used trails when visiting sites, and don't create new trails or trample vegetation.
Photography and Sketching is Allowed: Do not introduce any foreign substance to enhance the carved and pecked images for photographic or drawing purposes. Altering, defacing, or damaging the petroglyphs is against the law -- even if the damage is unintentional.
Pets: Keep pets on a leash and clean up after them.
Artifacts: If you happen to come across sherds (broken pottery) or lithics (flakes of stone tools), leave them where you see them. Once they are moved or removed, a piece of the past is forever lost.

From the trailhead, a keen eye can spot the panel in the alcove. Follow the cairned and marked trail that crosses slickrock before going to the base of the alcove. The alcove and panel would be an excellent place to visit on a hot summer afternoon.

Visiting the panel is a short hike that most, including young children, can enjoy.