Fremont Indian State Park and Museum
As I’ve continued to explore Utah State Parks, I made a stop along I-70 to explore the Fremont Indian State Park and Museum. Just last week, my family stopped to explore the museum, take a short hike and enjoy a relaxing picnic.
Here’s a rundown of what you can expect – and why you should make a stop – at Fremont Indian State Park and Museum.
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Things to Know Before You Go
Utah is hot. During the summer, temperatures can range from 95 to 110 degrees. Fremont Indian State Park may be in the mountains, but it can still get hot in the summer.
Bring enough water for you and your group. The museum may be indoors and air conditioned, there are several outdoor hikes. Here’s a list of what you should bring with you:
- Water to keep you hydrated
- Sunscreen to protect you from sunburns
- Hat and sunglasses
- Hiking shoes
- Proper clothes for the heat
- Poncho – afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer
- More water!
- A couple of quarters (you’ll read about that later)
Tour the Interactive Museum
Check in at the front desk of the museum when you first arrive. It’s where you pay the park entrance fee or show your Utah State Parks Pass. Grab a map that shows where each of the points of interest are located.
Inside the museum, you’ll find exhibits about the Native Americans who once inhabited the area. From a cut-away pit house to rows of arrowheads.
In the back of the museum, near the large windows, there’s a child’s play area. An elevated platform allows kids to learn about the people, then climb down a ladder into a put house. There are simply activities in the pit house, like baskets, clothing and ears of maize (corn).
Here’s where the quarters come in. Near the museum exit is a small vending machine with corn in it (weird, I know). Use the quarter to get some corn and place it on the metate nearby. Then use the smaller stone to grind down the corn into some cornmeal. But mind the warning sign – don’t try to eat the cornmeal, because little bits of rock often break off into the corn meal. Ouch!
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Hike the Interpretive Trail for Petroglyphs
Just to the south of the museum is one of many interpretive trails. It’s paved, making it wheelchair accessible. As you walk the sidewalk, keep an eye out along the rock wall to the west. There are numerous petroglyphs carved into the stone. My son said one looked like a dragon goat. 😉
The sidewalk makes a short loop out and back. But if you’re up for a fun hike to see more petroglyphs, follow the sign to the Court of Ceremonies trail. There is a steep ascent (which my kids love), but then it’s a gradual descent down to the east side of the museum parking lot. There’s an offshoot trail – Hidden Secrets – you can take. It’s a 2-mile round trip hike.
When you finish the trail, you’ll be at a replica pit house. Climb down the ladder to get a feel for what it was like for the Native Americans.
Nearby the pit house is a covered pavilion with benches. There’s also a granary nearby if you want to check it out – just don’t climb inside. A few other trails head off from the parking area, so you’re welcome to explore at your own pace.
Other Things to do at Fremont Indian State Park
There are a couple of covered pavilions near the museum parking lot. Take advantage of them and enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade. It’ll help your kids get the energy they need for any of the hikes you plan to take – because hungry kids are hangry kids!
Fremont Indian State Park has 17 points of interest spread out along several miles of roadway. The points described above are just what you’ll find at the museum. Here’s a few of the other hikes, interpretive trails and other points of interest of note (but there are several more):
- Newspaper Rock (you can see more than 1,000 images from the comfort of your car)
- Canyon of Life (.25 miles)
- Cave of a Hundred Hands (.5 miles)
- Arch of Art (.1 miles)
- Spider Woman Rock (1 mile)
If you aren’t able to visit all the spots Fremont Indian State Park has to offer, then you’ll need to come back time and time again to explore and learn more about the history the park has to offer.
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The Details
Address: 3820 W. Clear Creek Canyon Rd., Sevier, UT 84766
Cost: $4 per person or $8 per vehicle. A Utah State Park pass ($75) provides access to all 44 state parks.
Hours: During the summer, the park is open 7-days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Labor Day and Memorial Day, it’s open until 6 p.m. From December to mid-March the park is closed on Sundays, but open 9-5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas day.
Website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/fremont-indian/
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