Legend Rock State Petroglyphs

Legend Rock Petroglyph Site is located 20 miles northwest of Hot Springs State Park. Legend Rock is an important petroglyph site which features hundreds of individual petroglyphs spread across the face of the rock. Although a handful of the rock's beautiful etchings have suffered from various forms of erosion and human defacement, a wide majority of the artwork has been well preserved.

This is one of the finest sites for prehistoric rock art in Wyoming. 283 petroglyphs have been found here, depicting bison, elk, humans, and a flying jackrabbit. Not much is known about the people who pecked these into the rock, but it is suspected that these had shamanic significance.

The Legend Rock Petroglyph Site contains petroglyphs on layers of charcoal dated up to 2,000 years in age. There are three distinct styles of petroglyphs, coming from the early Hopi, Zuni and Peruvian groups of Native Americans at times over the course of their various residencies in the area.

On the way out to Legend Rock, we saw the beginnings of a thunderstorm in the distance. Though it never hit us, it certainly did cool down the weather for us which made our trip out even more wonderful.
Joe unlocking the gate so we can get in.
This is the parking lot by the trail which leads to the petroglyphs. As you can see, we were the only ones out there. I can't imagine why since it's out in the middle of nowhere!

Last week it was looking out for bears. This week it's rattlesnakes!

Joe walking down the trail with his "snake getter" stick. He was bound and determined that he would save me from possible snakes lurking beneath stones and under bushes. My hero!!!


Especially since I didn't stay on the trail. How would I be able to take my pictures?

The beginning of the petroglyphs. It was amazing to know that I could touch such ancient works of art and be so close to them. However, I didn't and hope that no one else does as it would eventually cause them to be damaged.

Some of the rock art had been previously vandalized by other people (the reason for having a locked gate now) and even other Indian tribes had "pecked" over the top of prior art.

It is our understanding that this area was used for spiritual uses and that the drawings came from their dreams or revelations. I personally think that many of the people drawings look like space aliens.

The head is now missing on this animal either through erosion or vandalism. This guy is over 6 feet tall.

I not only had to watch for snakes while photographing the rock art, but be mindful of the cactus too. And then there were the biting flies that actually drew blood.

Though this may look like a "modern" rock art picture, it is believed to be drawn by an early Indian who had observed the white man's home.

Very early graffiti. This is thought to be the work of an early fur trader.

These are bird nests along the ridges.

The Cottonwood Creek which runs along the ridge.

I did say we were in the middle of nowhere, right?

At least there were bathroom facilities here. However, there were horses roaming around on the property who apparently decided to use the outside of the bathroom as their own personal dumping site. Yes, those dark things are their deposits.