The One Thing That’s Destroying Utah’s Rock Art (And How to Stop It)

These ancient stories have lasted thousands of years. Let’s help keep it that way.

Southern Utah is full of incredible rock art carved and painted by ancient cultures. Some of these symbols have survived wind, rain, and the harsh desert for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the biggest threat they face today isn’t the weather. It’s people. Vandalism, graffiti, and even well-meaning visitors can damage these fragile sites faster than time ever could.

The good news is it doesn’t take much to protect these ancient places. First of all, leave the freakin' spray paint and pocket knives at home. (But if you are reading this I'm not really hitting the right audience. Just venting.)

Here's the one thing you might not know:  Simply going off trails and touching the rock art can slowly damage it beyond repair. Never touch or lean on rock art because even just the oils from our skin can slowly damage the surface of the rock. We can solve a lot of the rock art degradation problems by just adhering to the posted rules.

Now listen, this is one of the only times I will tell you to be a "Karen."- If you see vandalism happening, report it to the local ranger or BLM office. The more people who speak up, the better chance we have to protect these sites for future generations.

There is more you can do! You can help spread the word. Many visitors do not realize how easily rock art can be damaged. Share what you know with friends, family, and fellow adventurers. You can even share this article. When people understand the history and how fragile these sites are, they are much more likely to help take care of them. These carvings and paintings are more than just cool photo ops. They are pieces of ancient history and they deserve our protection. READ MORE: Utah's Top 5 Rock Art