Site #1 - Swelter Shelter (0.9 miles into the tour)
This short hike visits one of the monument's oldest-known sites for human occupation. Some tools found at this site date back 7,000 years! These ancient peoples are referred to today as the Desert Archaic culture.

The rock art, pictographs and petroglyphs, have been dated back to about 1,000 years ago and were likely done by the Fremont people.

Site #2 - Sound of Silence Trailhead (1.8 miles into the tour)
This is the trailhead for the three mile Sound of Silence trail.

2.65 miles - Major junction. Turn left toward Split Mountain Campground and Boat Ramp. 

Site #3 - Split Mountain View (2.8 miles into the tour)
This stop is to take in the rugged view of Split Mountain in the distance.

Site #4 - Geology View (3.1 miles into the tour)
The views from here show the many ridges of stone that one crossed Split Mountain. Underground forces pushed up the rock layers here eons ago, creating an irregular dome that erosion wore away into the rugged scenery seen today.

Site #5 - Geology View (3.5 miles into the tour)
Closer views of Split Mountain. The area was once covered deeply in dirt and sediment. Over time, the Green River wore its path through the mountain, and other erosional forces shaped the slopes into the dramatic scene that it currently is. It is about 1/2 mile further to drive to the Split Mountain Campground and boat ramp. The boat ramp is a great area to walk to the river or hike part of the Desert Voices Trail that starts at the boat ramp. There are also restroom facilities here if needed. Turn around and head back to the main Monument road when done.

4.6 miles - Turn left when you reach the main Monument Road to continue the tour.

Site #6 - Chew Ranch View (5.8 miles into the tour)
Hands down, one of my favorite views in this part of the Monument. Particularly in the fall, when the leaves are changing along the river, this is a dramatic scene. Split Mountain, across the river, the tree-lined Green River Campground below, and the fields of the Chew Ranch in the distance to the southwest, it is a great view.

Site #7 - Morrison Formation View (6.5 miles into the tour)

From the Monument Sign:

Site #8 - Placer Point (7.2 miles into the tour)

A short dirt road on the right leads to the Green River and Placer Point. This was the site of a dredging operation to dredge gold from the Green River in the early 1900s. The operation was not successful and soon ended.

From the Monument Sign:

Site #9- Chew Ranch and Rock Art Panel (7.2 miles into the tour)
The monument road crosses through the private Chew Ranch through this section, after crossing the bridge over the Green River. On the right, just after the bridge, is a dirt road on the right. This dirt road is private, but the private owner allows access to cross their property on this dirt road to the BLM land about a 0.25 of a mile beyond. Just inside the BLM land is a large cliff face on the left that is the site of a petroglyph panel and more modern graffiti. It is worth the short side trip. The road is generally good, but if you are in a very low clearance sedan, you may want to walk from pavement.

Site #10 - Turtle Rock (9.4 miles into the tour)
The rock on the left is often referred to as Turtle Rock. It is easy to see why! The rock is the fast weathering Entrada Sandstone, the same rock prominent in southern Utah for creating arches and hoodoos.

Site #11 - Blue Mountain Junction (10 miles into the tour)
A major junction is reached. Go left here, as the road turns to dirt. From here on, the road is dirt, but typically excellent and should be passable by all vehicles in most conditions. Right at this junction is the rough Blue Mountain road that requires four-wheel drive and climbs to the top of Blue Mountain.

Site #12 Elephant Toes Butte View (10.3 miles into the tour)
To the right, in the distance, is an eroded Nugget Sandstone feature that resembles Elephant Toes. The feature was created when sand dunes millions of years ago became compressed into rock, then weathered.

Site #13 Rock Art (10.7 miles into the tour)
This is the first of two impressive rock art sites. A short trail heads up to view the rock art closer-up. The panels are Fremont in origin, like the Swelter Shelter. The exact meaning and story the panels are trying to tell has been lost to time, but certainly many of the images are easily identifiable, like big horn sheep.

Site #14 Lizard Panel (10.9 miles)
This site, a short distance from site #13, is one of my favorite petroglyphs panels in Utah. A short, though somewhat steep and rocky trail leads up to the cliff band and a closer view and several excellent petroglyph panels. The lizards are unique, I have never seen a similar design in Utah, and it is striking and expertly done. A really neat panel to visit. Be sure to look for the flute player panel that is partially eroded to the right of the lizards. It is another of my favorites.

The trail continues along the base of the cliff to visit a few more glyphs before ending about where the cliff makes a turn to the north.

About a 1/4 of a mile past site 14, keep an eye out for a petroglyph on the left, across the wash. This isn't signed, and there isn't a pullout, so it is often overlooked.

Site #15 Morris Cabin Area (11.8 miles from the start of the tour)
The final stop on the auto route, and the end of the road, is the Josie Morris Cabin area.

The Josie Morris homestead is at the end of the road, with a pond, old cabin, and other remnants to wander around and visit. There is a picnic table here as well, making it a great lunch spot.

There are two short trails that leave from this trailhead. The first, Box Canyon, leaves from the trailhead and heads directly north into Box Canyon. It is about 1/2 mile roundtrip depending on when you turn around.

The second, Hog Canyon, is reached by walking through the homestead and continuing past the pond. This trail is about 1.25 miles roundtrip, depending on where you turn around. The trail heads east for a few minutes before heading north up Hog Canyon, the first canyon east of the homestead. Hog Canyon was named because Josie kept hogs in the canyon. It is a really lovely hike up a deep walled canyon. Of the two, it is my favorite and typically has a small stream bubbling along its floor. Fall colors can be excellent in Hog Canyon.