Nine Mile Canyon Back Country Byway

Often described as “the world’s longest art gallery,” the Nine Mile Canyon Back Country Byway offers a remarkable drive through a 40‑plus‑mile red rock canyon renowned for its extraordinary concentration of prehistoric rock art. Visitors travel through a rugged landscape of sheer sandstone walls, side canyons, and pinyon–juniper‑covered mesas while viewing rock art created by various Indigenous cultures spanning thousands of years, along with historic inscriptions and traces of early ranching and military use. The canyon’s flat bottom and craggy cliffs frame a scenic corridor where cliff‑side granaries, rock shelters, and scattered homestead remnants tell the story of human use across many centuries. Along the byway, designated pullouts and trailheads provide opportunities for hiking, photography, picnicking, and close‑up viewing of rock art panels such as the famous “Great Hunt” scene, while modern ranching and energy development illustrate ongoing use of this unique landscape. Visitors should plan ample time for this immersive drive, be prepared for changing conditions on paved and graded roads, and always respect private property and protected cultural sites. Know Before You Go Please “take only pictures and leave only footprints,” avoid sharing exact locations or GPS coordinates of sensitive sites, and report any vandalism or damage you observe to local authorities or the Price Field Office. Cultural resources in Nine Mile Canyon are protected by state and federal law, and respectful behavior helps ensure that future generations—and the Tribal communities for whom this is a place of ongoing spiritual significance—can continue to visit and connect with this sacred landscape.

From Wellington, Utah: Head northeast from Wellington along Soldier Creek Road (County Road 332) to enter Nine Mile Canyon and follow posted signs for the Nine Mile Canyon Back Country Byway. From Price, Utah: Travel east on US‑6/191 for approximately 8 miles, then turn north onto 2200 East (Soldier Creek Road) near the Chevron station. Follow this road into Nine Mile Canyon and continue along the signed back country byway route. From Myton, Utah (historic eastern access): From Myton, travel west 1.6 miles on US‑40, exit on the first paved road to the left, and continue about 0.3 miles to the Back Country Byway sign and information kiosk. From the kiosk, follow signed directions along the historic route toward Nine Mile Canyon; road surface and access conditions vary, so visitors should check locally or with the Price Field Office before travel.