Legend Rock Petroglyphs
We turned off the empty two-lane highway and onto a gravel road heading off into the far distance. Between Thermopolis and Meeteetse, on our way to Cody, Wyoming, we really felt like we were “out there.” My mom, Anders, Finn, and I pulled into an empty parking lot, save for the site host’s RV, and made immediate use of the shaded picnic tables for lunch. In the middle of May, we had the Legend Rock petroglyphs to ourselves.
We stopped at the visitor center before walking out to see the Legend Rock petroglyphs. The site visit had been an impulse stop and didn’t really know what we would find. The volunteer at the visitor center clued us in to the cultural importance of the Legend Rock petroglyphs and gave us a map.
What’s the difference between a petroglyph and a pictograph? A petroglyph is an image carved, incised or scratched into stone. A pictograph is a painting on stone, using natural pigments.
Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site is managed by Wyoming State Parks. The website says,
“Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site is a 400 meter long, near vertical cliff with more than 92 prehistoric petroglyph panels and over 300 petroglyph figures.
“Legend Rock has been a sacred site for Native Americans of this region for thousands of years. Local concern for the preservation and protection of the site led to acquisition of the property as a Wyoming State Petroglyph Site in 1973. During the same year, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Legend Rock Petroglyph Site is one of the most fragile in the Wyoming State Parks system.”
It’s an easy walk to the cliff covered in hundreds petroglyphs. What a find! There was some graffiti, too. I was surprised how close we could get to the petroglyphs. Of course, we were careful not to touch the rock lest the oil in our hands degrade the ancient rock art.
The nearly 300 individual petroglyphs feature some of the oldest and best examples of Dinwoody rock art in the world. I know that because we used the interpretive brochure from the visitor center to better understand what we were looking at. There is still a lot archaeologists don’t know about the Legend Rock petroglyphs and the mystery is likely to remain.
If we had more time, or if certain children had been up for more walking, I would have loved to explore further. As it was, the creek, the flowers, and the petroglyphs, made for a delightful afternoon.
Know Before You Go
FEE
None
HOURS
May through September, no key required, open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
October through April, key required, can be picked up at State Bath House, Chamber of Commerce & Hot Springs County Museum.
AMENITIES
- Petroglyphs
- Restrooms
- Trails
- Picnic Area
- Visitor Center
CONTACT
Hot Springs State Park
538 North Park Street
Thermopolis, WY 82443
Phone: 307.864.2176
More Near Legend Rock Petroglyphs
Thermopolis {Tepee Hot Pools, State Park}
Thermopolis {Dinosaur Center, Star Plunge, Bison Pasture}
This is so interesting and I have even learnt a new word: ‘petroglyph’! I would really enjoy this, what an amazing place to run into
Wow now I learned a new word and know the difference between petroglyph and pictograph! Do the scientists know when those petroglyphs came into existence??
Wyoming is actually a place I want to visit!! It looks so pretty! I hope to visit some day!
Those impulse stops are sometimes the greatest ones of all! Such beautiful photos … they make me want to visit Wyoming someday!
This is a really cool thing to see! I didn’t know the difference between a pictograph and a petroglyph! How interesting!
This sounds so cool! We need to plan a trip to Wyoming to visit!