Legend Rock Petroglyphs near Thermopolis and Cody, Wyoming.

Legend Rock Petroglyphs, Wyoming

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How to find petroglyphs

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. Legend Rock is a petroglyph site which features hundreds of individual petroglyphs spread across the face of the rock

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.”

Legend Rock is a petroglyph site which features hundreds of individual petroglyphs spread across the face of the rock. Between Meeteesee and Thermopolis south on Route 120

What’s the difference between a petroglyph and a pictograph?

  • petroglyph is an image carved, incised or scratched into stone.
  • pictograph is a painting on stone, using natural pigments.

Legend Rock State Petroglyph site is interesting for its archaeologyWe were so impressed by the number of petroglyphs and the condition. We like visiting Pictograph State Park near Billings, Montana, but those paintings are fading away and getting harder to see every year.

Thunder eagle petroglyph at Legend Rock Petroglyph

Be sure to pick up the informational brochure at the visitor center for a better understanding of what you are looking at.

Using the interpretive map to understand the petroglyphs at Legend Rock

It’s an easy walk to the cliff covered in hundreds of petroglyphs. What a find! There was some graffiti, too. I was surprised at 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.

Legend Rock Petroglyphs near Thermopolis and Cody, Wyoming.

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.

Aster at Legend Rock pictographs, Indian writing, wildlfower

If you go at the right time of year, there will be a few wildflowers to catch your attention. We were there in spring, but I imagine it gets really hot in summer. Don’t forget your hat, sunscreen, and water.

Creek at Legend Rock Petroglyph Site is located in Hot Springs County, Wyoming, 20 miles northwest of Hot Springs State Park (which is located in Thermopolis, Wyoming)

Know Before You Go – Legend Rock Petroglyphs

FEE: None

HOURS: May – September (no key required, open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) October – 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

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6 thoughts on “Legend Rock Petroglyphs, Wyoming”

  1. 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

  2. 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??

  3. Those impulse stops are sometimes the greatest ones of all! Such beautiful photos … they make me want to visit Wyoming someday!

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