Legend Rock Petroglyph Site
Petroglyphs -- prehistoric drawings inscribed in rock -- are scattered throughout the foothills of Wyoming's mountains. Legend Rock is one of the richest petroglyph sites in the Rockies, and it is managed -- rather informally -- by state agents at Hot Springs State Park (tel. 307/864-2176). Visitors can pick up a gate key at the State Bath House and then drive up Wyo. 120 to the Hamilton Dome turnoff, then continue 8 miles west, partly on a dirt road, to the site. There you can hike up and down Cottonwood Creek to find pecked representations of turtle-like creatures, birds, hunters, and musicians. To get a good view of some of the panels, you need to scramble up on ledges. Weather has taken its toll on this soft sandstone, and so have souvenir hunters -- hands off, please! Be sure to ask for a map to the site when you pick up the key; the route is not well marked. You can drive down by the creek, but you're better off, particularly when it's wet and muddy, parking up by the gate and taking the short hike down.
Petroglyphs -- prehistoric drawings inscribed in rock -- are scattered throughout the foothills of Wyoming's mountains. Legend Rock is one of the richest petroglyph sites in the Rockies, and it is managed -- rather informally -- by state agents at Hot Springs State Park (tel. 307/864-2176). Visitors can pick up a gate key at the State Bath House and then drive up Wyo. 120 to the Hamilton Dome turnoff, then continue 8 miles west, partly on a dirt road, to the site. There you can hike up and down Cottonwood Creek to find pecked representations of turtle-like creatures, birds, hunters, and musicians. To get a good view of some of the panels, you need to scramble up on ledges. Weather has taken its toll on this soft sandstone, and so have souvenir hunters -- hands off, please! Be sure to ask for a map to the site when you pick up the key; the route is not well marked. You can drive down by the creek, but you're better off, particularly when it's wet and muddy, parking up by the gate and taking the short hike down.
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