McConkie Ranch Three Kings Trail

Just about 15 minutes out of Vernal Utah is McConkie Ranch. They have hundreds of petroglyphs and pictographs on their property. Lucky for us, they have realized the historical significance and have opened up 2 amazing easy trails to explore these amazing sites to allow us to learn about the ancient history. This post will cover the Three Kings Trail.

Quick Details:

Length: About 1.5 Miles out and back.
Difficulty: DR3 some boulder scrambling but it was a lot easier than it looked.
Elevation Gain: About 170 feet
Restroom: Yes they have a few porta-pottys
Dogs? Yes, leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.
Other Info: Fee Area, honor based $5.00 donation requested.
Also: Do not touch the rock art. The oils in your skin can cause irreparable damage.
Bring binoculars or a telephoto lens for the Three Kings Panel. It is about 100 feet up.

To Get Here:

Take Main St to UT-121 W/500 N St and turn right (north). Go about 3.0 mi and turn right onto 3500 W St. Go 4.3 mi. and continue onto Dry Fork Settlement Rd. Continue for 2.1 mi. and turn right onto McConkie Rd.

The parking lot is for both the 3 Kings Trail and The Petroglyph Trail. You will want to park and follow the signs a little further down the road to the Three Kings Trail.

The Trail:

As I mentioned, just follow the signs to the trail.

Not far down the road you will see the trailhead on the right. Note: there are 3 gates you have to cross through, this is to allow us access to the trail, while keeping their livestock corralled. So, be a good guest and be sure to close the gate after you pass through.

Note: we got a little stumped trying to open the first gate, its a simple chain around the pole to the right. Super easy looking back but we got a little frustrated with it at first.

 

Neat cave on the cliff wall above.

You will trek though some cow pastures for the first half of the trail. We surmised this must be to go around private property. Watch for cow pies.

Formations above.

After the 2nd gate you will reach the actual trail.

There is a trail split here, right will go directly to the 3 Kings Panel, left will go to some more rock art. I recommend going left because the trail split is harder to see from the other direction.

Before long you will start to see some great petroglyphs.

One that appears to have been lost to erosion.

Another cool one.

The trail looks rough, but it’s not too bad.

This is a cool panel.

Another cool one.

Something I noticed in this area is that there is sometimes a mix of petroglyphs and pictograph in one image. For those not aware, petroglyphs are carved into stone, pictographs are painted on. I have noticed that generally the consensus is moving forward with the universal term of rock art that covers both.

Looking out across the way.

Cool rock formations.

More petroglyphs.

The cliffs.

Little bit of sunset.

Another great panel.

And another.

The cliffs above.

Neat symbols.

The trail down.

More symbols.

A little closer.

Another cool panel.

And another.

I see a few figures, a few animals… and some squiggles. Not sure what is going on here.

This one is faint but neat.

The cliffs above again.

Neat pinnacle.

In the side canyon there is a trail split. We initially went to the left but didn’t see any ribbons, so backtracked and went to the right and found a ribbon. I don’t know if there is anything up this way, but to get to the 3 Kings Panel, stay to the right.

Continuing down the trail. Super flat and easy through here.

Eventually you will reach the 3rd and final gate, that means you are almost there.

Getting close.

And we made it!

Unfortunately with the dwindling light we couldn’t see it very well.

The cliff walls.

Eventually I thought to pull out the telephoto lens, and I was able to get this. Still can’t see it all, but it is neat.

This one shows it a little better, but is a bit fuzzy. I read these figures are over 6 feet tall! They aren’t sure what they mean and why they risked the precarious position but it must have been important to be able to be seen from afar.

This one to show how high up there are. They are above the small ledge next to the window.

Well that was fun, but it is starting to get dark and the place closes at dark. Simply return the way you came.

The trail back.

The side canyon. I like the pinnacle.

Well, it got too dark for any more pictures, but it was just cruising back through the pastures, trying to beat the sun anyway. I want to apologize to the McConkies for being on the trail for 5 – 10 minutes past dark. We totally underestimated how much time we had left.

That trail was incredible! I wish we had a little more time with the light, but that just means I have to return next time I am in the area. Some incredible petroglyphs and not another soul to be seen. Beautiful desert and cliff scenery. Definitely 10 squirrels here as well. While here, be sure to check out The Petroglyph Trail it’s a little tougher, but it is shorter and has many more petroglyphs and pictographs.

As for difficulty, it’s mostly flat, completely flat if you just want to see the 3 kings panel. To see there other panels there is a short climb up to the cliffs. DR3.

Dogs are allowed, leashed.