Fremont Indian State Park
Things to Do
Overview | Climate/Map | Things To Do | Description | Camping Lodging | Nearby
Trails throughout the park allow visitors to view rock art and visit other points of interest. A short, paved interpretive trail begins at the visitor center and is wheelchair accessible. Trail guides and hiking information are distributed at the visitor center.
A reconstructed 1880s pioneer cabin is located at the picnic area located 3/4 mile east of the Visitor Center. Tours of the cabin are available upon request. Castle Rock Campground has 31 campsites, modern rest rooms and provides access to the 250-mile Paiute ATV Trail. Fishing is available in Sevier Creek.
Trails and Hiking
Trail | Activities |
Time Required |
Distance |
Comments |
1* | Newspaper Rock Hunkups's Train |
20 | 0.5 mi. | Easy walk along road. |
2* | Canyon of Life | 15 | 0.25 mi. | Moderate hike - no trail. |
3* | Alma Christensen Trail | 30 | 1.5 mi. | Mod. steep hike along a marked trail. |
4* | Five Finger Ridge | 20 | 0.5 mi. | Mod. hike, steep at top. |
5* | Parade of Rock Art | 15 | 0.3 mi. | Easy path along rock art -covered cliffs. ^ |
6 | Court of Ceremonies | 20 | 0.5 mi | Mod. walk along wall with human figures,. |
7 | Hidden Secrets | 15 | 0.5 mi. | Mod. hike on rough-cut trail. |
8 | Canyon Overlook | 30 | 1.0 mi. | Mod hike, panoramic view. |
9 | Cave of 100 Hands | 20 | 0.5 mi. | Mod climb to cave. |
10 | Arch of Art | 20 | 0.25 mi. | Easy walk along roadf. |
11 | Sheep Shelter Cave | 30 | 1.0 mi. | Mod. hike to sdmall cave and rock art panels. |
12 | Canyon of Spider Woman | 15 | 0.3 mi. | Easy path along rock art covered cliffs. ^ |
13 | 1880s Pioneer Cabin | 30 | 0.7 mi. | Easy walk to picnic area. |
Hiking
The best way to see Fremont Indian State Park is by going on one of its fourteen guided trails. Trail guides are available at the Fremont Indian State Park Museum and Visitor Center. The most popular trail, called the Parade of Rock Art, loops around the museum and is wheelchair accessible. It takes approximately 15 minutes and has an abundance of rock art panels. The guide takes you on a journey relating Creation legends, hunting stories, and the story of Spider Woman. Paiute and Fremont petroglyphs can be seen on this trail.
Fremont has 14 guided trails measuring from
1/4 mile to 5 miles in length and is rated one of America's Top 50 Places to
Hike. The family campground, Castle Rock campground, has 31 sites that include
picnic tables, a fire pit, and a barbeque grill. Many of the sites are pull-through
and have the near-round creek running through them. This campground has been
rated one of America's Top 100 Family Campgrounds.
There are 697 rock art panels within the park. In addition to camping and hiking,
outdoor enthusiast can enjoy bicycling, ATVing, geo-caching, exploring the nearby
ghost town of Kimberly, fishing, or one of the many scheduled activities that
take place at the park such as the Mountain Man Rendevous and annual pottery
workshops.
Mountain Biking
Four Creeks Loop
8 mile loop, 1200 feet elevation range, for intermediate+ to advanced riders, 2 1/2 hours riding time, open April to November.
This ride can be taken in either direction, and borders Mill Creek and Clear Creek while splashing through Fish Creek and Shingle Creek. If you begin at the Fremont museum (5,800 feet elevation), ride west on Highway 13 for 7 miles through the Narrows. This is a gentle but steady climb on pavement to 6,700 feet elevation, with Clear Creek on the left and rugged canyon walls on either side.
Turn left on Road 114--the next 8 miles follow the Painte ATV Trail. Ride south on 114 beneath the I-70 overpass and ford Shingle Creek. Continue for a mile to a flat, and turn left toward an old grass airstrip. This is the high point of ride at 7,000 feet.
Turn right as you enter the airstrip into a patch of pinyon pine and juniper. Behind the 2nd patch you can see the high volcanic Tushar Mountains. After riding through the 3rd patch of trees, drop down on the right fork and continue to Fish Creek.
Ford the creek and make two more wet crossings downstream. Water is midcalf to knee deep! The Paiute Trail then climbs through a gap in the rock to Mud Flat, and parallels I-70 back to Mill Creek. Turn left under the overpass (leaving the Paiute Trail) and back to the starting point.
Sargent Mountain Loop
22 miles, 2500 feet elevation range, for advanced+ riders, 5 hours riding time, open May-October.
This loop climbs from the valley to 8300 feet elevation on Sargent Mountain. Much like climbing a mountain peak, it offers a physical challenge, variety of vegetation and geologic features, and excellent overlooks at the top and on the return trip. Allow enough time for breaks and take plenty of water.
This ride is best taken from one direction. Begin at the Tushar Mountain Village turnoff across Highway 13 from the Park museum. Ride beneath the I-70 overpass, past the Village, and keep right through a saddle on primitive road 475. Continue by a small reservoir and rock canyon walls. As you climb slowly there are six fords of Dry Creek, which usually isn't dry! (Riding up through the six fords and returning to Highway 13 makes an easy to intermediate- 6-mile trip, which can be done in an hour).
The trail rises sharply, requiring some walking to Prince Valley (7400 feet). Here a shortcut takes off to the left. Keep going straight past the dry lakebed of Willow Lake, to the intersection with Road 476 near a small spring fed stream. Climb another 1/2 mile to 8300 feet elevation, and continue on 476 past Sargent Lake and Twin Lake. The trail begins dropping now, with some steep, rocky sections as you approach Sage Flat.
Through the Flat and down into Dry Wash. The trail is literally in the dry creekbed in places, with some stretches of sand. Slow down through the last two miles to look at the boulders, rock formations, and lizards skittering across the track.
The dirt road ends at State Highway 13. Turn left and cruise back 5 miles to the starting point. Picnic sites are found along Clear Creek. Ask at the Park for the location of rockshelters and other remnants of prehistoric use.
Trail Mountain
15 miles, 500 feet elevation range, for intermediate riders, 2 hours riding time, open April to November.
Begin from State Highway 13 to the north on Road 106. This intersection is at 6,700 feet elevation about 7 miles west of the Fremont museum. Climb north at an easy grade for two miles through pinyon pine and juniper, and through the rocky Devil's Dance Floor at 7,200 feet. This section follows the Paiute ATV Trail.
Continue past Three Creeks Reservoir, with rocky Granddad Peak on the left. Past the Pahvant Guard Station, Mary's Nipple is the highest peak in the group of mountains to the north, and the Tushar Mountains rise to the south. At the large meadow, turn right on road 491. You'll ride through a rock patch, past a cabin and another rock patch, and the road turns south along Grass Creek.
Follow the grassy trail (044) along the Creek for half a mile, turning right on trail 040 through the saddle. This takes you back to the Pahvant Guard Station, and return on Road 106.
Overview | Climate/Map | Things To Do | Description | Camping Lodging | Nearby
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