Fremont Indian State Park
Posted in: Education, Historical places on November 14, 2022.
Another Little Gem
We at the Lodge love discovering little gems in Southern Utah – the places that most people drive right past, or that are a little tricky to get to. And we love suggesting these gems on our blog, so that you can discover a Southern Utah that’s off-the-beaten path. So, with that in mind, here’s a little state park that nobody seems to know about – the Fremont Indian State Park and Museum.
Photo by The Dye Clan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
What You’ll Find
As the name suggests, this state park focuses on preserving the history of the Fremont Native American tribe that dwelt in this region. (And also some of the other tribes in the more distant past.) It’s got a pretty impressive little museum, with lots of artifacts – pottery, arrowhead, textiles, tools – from the area. The park also has outdoor exhibits. There are several re-created dwellings that let you see how the Fremont people lived.
But you can’t leave the Fremont Indian State Park until you’ve explored some of its trails. Because the trails lead you to the coolest part of the park – all the rock art. There are tons of petroglyphs and pictographs everywhere. And, as you hike around, you’ll get to see plenty of it. (One of the canyons that you can explore is actually designated as an outdoor museum.)
Photo by James St. John via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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More Details
The Fremont Indian State Park is located just outside of Richfield Utah, on Interstate–70. Google Maps location here. It was actually during the construction of the Interstate that crews came across the artifacts currently stored at the park. According to its website, it was the largest known Fremont Indian Village to be uncovered. And so the state park was created to preserve its history.
There is are two campgrounds at the park, the Castle Rock Campground and the Sam Stowe Campground. You can reserve spots at reserveamerica.com.
There’s more to learn and discover about the Fremont Indian State Park and Museum. You can read a more in-depth version of its history and mission here. And, of course, you can always stop by for a visit and see it all for yourself.