Anasazi State Park Museum is a short drive from popular Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. It provides a glimpse into what life was like for the Anasazi people and is a great stop along Scenic Highway 12. And since we have an annual Utah State Parks day pass, we made it a point to stop and visit.

A visit to the museum can last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on how much time you want to spend learning about the Anasazi people. Here’s what you can expect on your visit to the Anasazi State Park.

Tour the Anasazi State Park Museum

Check in at the information desk when you first arrive. The fee for a family is only $10, so even if you’re just passing through, it’s well worth a story to explore, learn, stretch your legs and take a bathroom break. If you’ve got young kids with you, ask for a Junior Ranger booklet. You can also stop in the gift shop and find a souvenir to take home with you – like a souvenir patch.

The museum offers visitors hands-on exhibits (perfect for kids) to help them learn more about the Anasazi people. They can write a message on a post-it using symbols. Kids can also try and match up raw materials with finished product. For example, a Yucca leaf can become twine (there’s your first match-up).

Artifacts are also on display, showing pottery designs, weaved baskets, clothes and more. You can also learn about how the dwellings were made and which dwellings were used for living and ceremonies.

Your kids can also use some crayons to do an etching of native American symbols.

Explore a Replica Dwelling

After exploring the museum inside, take a step outside to the actual dwellings. Just behind the Visitor Center is a replica dwelling everyone can explore. The doorways are short, as well as the ceilings. So if you’re tall, don’t expect to stand up straight. The dwelling offers multiple rooms to explore, which is perfect for fascinating the minds of your kids.

The replica is a great place to take a group photo that captures your visit to the Utah State Park.

Plus, if you’re into Geocaching, you’ll find one for the Visit Utah Geo Tour at the park. I won’t tell you exactly where it is, but you can get more information at the Visit Utah Geo Tour Website.

Visit the Coombs Site Ruins

Kids may not fully appreciate the Coombs Site Ruins. You have to use your imagination a little bit. We learned that when the Anasazi people left this village, they burned everything down. Archaeologists have uncovered foundations of the dwellings and certain artifacts. However, there aren’t actual houses for the kids to see. Only foundation footprints.

The pit-house is likely the highlight of the ruins. It’s built in such a way that kids can see how it would’ve been built back in the 1100s. If they paid attention to what they saw in the museum about pit-houses, they’ll know a little bit more about what they are looking at.

Signs along the way explain what likely stood on those footprints. Take the time to read those signs and learn about what actually stood there hundreds of years ago.

If you’re lucky, you may even see a lizard or two running around the desert floor.

Become a Junior Ranger

My nine-year-old son loves doing the Junior Ranger Program at national parks. We were pleasantly surprised to see Anasazi State Park Museum had a Junior Ranger Program. My three sons decided to grab a booklet and earn their official badge. The activity manual is pretty simple – Ages 6 and under just have to complete a scavenger hunt. Ages 6-9 years old must complete the scavenger hunt and answer a few questions. Ten and 13 year olds must do that and one additional pages of questions.

The multi-page booklet provides information and other activities for the kids to do so they can learn more about what they are looking at.

Once they’ve completed the activities, stop back at the information desk and the volunteer will provide them with the badge.

The Details

Address: Located on the south end of Boulder, Utah along Scenic Highway 12.

Parking: There is adequate parking in the lot near the entrance of the museum.

Cost: Day use fee is $5. Seniors are $3 and a family is $10. Or purchase a Utah State Parks annual day pass online.

Hours: The museum is open every day from March-October, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and November-April from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

Website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/anasazi/

Phone: (435) 335-7308

See what other sites there are in Utah to explore with your family.

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