When you think of famous art galleries, you might picture the Smithsonian, the Guggenheim, or the Louvre. While each of those places certainly offer plenty of amazing art, the Beehive State is actually home to the world’s longest art gallery. That’s right – this art gallery stretches for 46 miles, and it features art created more than a thousand years ago.
To see this incredible, ancient art gallery, head to eastern Utah.
Tomas D/Tripadvisor South of Helper, you’ll find the small town of Wellington. From U.S. Highway 91, turn off onto Soldier Creek Road. It turns into 9 Mile Canyon Road, which takes you right to the canyon.
Nine Mile Canyon is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. You’ll find restrooms in several spots here, as well as a picnic area, hiking trails, and a historic homestead.
Kat D/Tripadvisor
Don’t let the name fool you - this canyon is much longer than nine miles, and ancient petroglyphs and pictographs stretch for 46 miles along its cliffs.
Bureau of Land Management/flickr
There are tens of thousands of images, created by Fremont and Ute people, as long ago as 950 A.D.
Bureau of Land Management/flickr
The rock found in the canyon is sandstone, mudstone, and limestone. Though these images have weathered time thus far, they’re still in danger of disappearing.
Tomas D/Tripadvisor When you visit, make sure not to touch the art. Oils from your skin can damage it, and we want to continue to preserve it for generations to come.
The Fremont people lived here between 950-1250 A.D., and they left thousands of petroglyphs and pictographs to give us clues about their history. This panel is called The Great Hunt, and it’s one of the most recognizable petroglyphs in the world!
Donna Fullerton/Tripadvisor
The Fremont were hunter-gatherers, and planted corn and squash. Evidence of their irrigation ditches was visible as recently as the 1930s.
Kim Clark/Tripadvisor
There are more than 1,000 sites to see rock art at Nine Mile Canyon. While the oldest art is Fremont, newer art from Ute tribes is also visible, sometimes drawn right over the top of the older art.
Tomas D/Tripadvisor
Watch for drawings depicting riders on horseback - that’s one tell-tale sign of the more recent Ute petroglyphs.
Tomas D/Tripadvisor
When you visit Nine Mile Canyon, make sure to practice the Leave No Trace Principles. Pack out whatever trash you bring in, take only pictures and leave only footprints.
Harold W/Tripadvisor
Have you seen the petroglyphs and pictographs at Nine Mile Canyon? We’d love to hear about your trip in the comments!
Tomas D/Tripadvisor
South of Helper, you’ll find the small town of Wellington. From U.S. Highway 91, turn off onto Soldier Creek Road. It turns into 9 Mile Canyon Road, which takes you right to the canyon.
Kat D/Tripadvisor
Bureau of Land Management/flickr
When you visit, make sure not to touch the art. Oils from your skin can damage it, and we want to continue to preserve it for generations to come.
Donna Fullerton/Tripadvisor
Kim Clark/Tripadvisor
Harold W/Tripadvisor
Looking for more petroglyphs in the Beehive State? Check out this tiny park in the middle of a St. George neighborhood.
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Address: 9 Mile Canyon Rd, Utah, USA
