Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States Aug 2, 2025

There"s something timeless about Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, United States—a place where red rock cliffs, winding canyons and ancient stories come together under the desert sky. Long before visitors laced up hiking boots and hit the trails at Capitol Reef, the Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan peoples called this place home. Their connection to the land was both spiritual and practical—and they left behind some of the park"s most captivating features, including petroglyphs like those found in Fruita, featured in today"s image. These rock panels showcase an ancient visual language, featuring human figures adorned with headdresses and jewelry. Alongside them are animals like bighorn sheep and lizards, as well as abstract shapes alluding to ceremonies, migrations and celestial events.

© Nicolas VINCENT/Adobe Stock

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