MOAB GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Reading Rock: A Guided Walk Through Moab’s Ancient Voices
A guided archaeological tour that pairs an evening lecture with field visits to petroglyphs, pictographs, cliff dwellings and habitation sites around Moab, interpreted through Indigenous perspectives and professional archaeological insight.
Reading Rock: A Guided Walk Through Moab’s Ancient Voices.
Red sandstone walls, narrow canyon mouths and wind-scoured ledges frame panels of imagery and the remnants of ancient habitation across the Moab landscape. The Native American Archeology Tour combines classroom context with on-the-ground visits, treating rock art, cliff dwellings and other sites as living records that require careful interpretation and respectful attention.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Petroglyphs, Pictographs and Dwellings Interpreted
Guides illuminate the region’s cultural prehistory and the meaning of rock imagery and habitation sites, framing visits through Indigenous perspectives and archaeological insight.
From Courthouse Wash to Remote Canyon Panels
Tours visit a mix of local and farther-flung red‑rock canyons—shorter half‑day options focus on nearby sites while full‑day outings push deeper into the landscape to reach multiple imagery locations and dwellings.
Flexible Itineraries — Half Day, Full Day or Private Multi‑Day
Options include half‑day loops visiting Courthouse Wash, Moonflower Canyon and Birthing Rock; full‑day excursions that add Potash Road, Poison Spider and other panels; and private multi‑day expeditions with custom or backcountry itineraries.
What the day feels like
What the Day Feels Like
Each tour begins the evening before with a one‑hour lecture to set cultural and archaeological context; the next day you board a vehicle and move between panels and sites, climbing in and out several times and standing as guides interpret imagery and dwellings in situ.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this tour suits — and who should plan accordingly.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Tours run between 4 and 8 hours; half‑day options operate 8:00–12:00 or 13:00–17:00, and full‑day departures run approximately 8:00–17:00. All trips begin with a one‑hour lecture the evening before your field day.
Meet at Canyonlands By Night before departing for field sites.
Bring a hat, sunscreen and any personal medication you require.
Private multi‑day expeditions and backcountry options are available with tailored itineraries to reach more remote sites.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the tour?
Tours last between 4 and 8 hours depending on whether you choose a half‑day or full‑day option.
Where do we meet?
The meeting location is Canyonlands By Night.
Is there any preparation before the field day?
Yes — each tour begins the evening before your scheduled trip with a one‑hour lecture to provide cultural and archaeological context.
What should I bring?
Bring sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen, and any personal medication you need.
Are there physical requirements or accessibility concerns?
Participants will climb in and out of a vehicle multiple times and stand at sites for extended periods, so people with mobility issues should plan accordingly.
What sites will we visit on a typical trip?
Typical stops include Courthouse Wash, Moonflower Canyon and Birthing Rock on half‑day trips; full‑day routes add locations such as Potash Road, Poison Spider, HWY 313 Intestine Man and Bartlett Panel, with additional sites like Thompson Canyon or Dancing Bear possible if time allows.