Legend Rock
Prehistoric Site
DATES OPEN: Year round, weather permitting
HOURS: Sunrise to sunset. To obtain permits, visit the Hot Springs State Park Bath House between 8 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Saturday or Noon to 5:30 PM Sunday.
FACILITIES: Picnic area and restrooms. Tours are available for free, but please call ahead (307-864-2176) to make arrangements.
ADMISSION:No fee, but a permit and key must be obtained from Hot Springs State Park (located 30 miles southeast of Legend Rock) to gain access to the site. A photo ID is required.
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE: Yes
LOCATION:Approximately 30 miles northwest of Thermopolis—please stop by Hot Springs State Park (located at 220 Park Street in Thermopolis) before visiting Legend Rock for a permit, key to the site, and directions.
Legend Rock
Carved over a period of thousands of years by prehistoric groups who made their living hunting and gathering in the Big Horn Basin, the petroglyphs of Legend Rock are a must-see. Nearly 300 images appear on the rock, most of which researchers call members of the Dinwoody tradition. Found west of the Big Horn River in the Big Horn and Wind River Basins, Dinwoody tradition rock art is known for its distinctive figures, which are pecked into the rock surface. The Dinwoody tradition includes large human or humanlike figures with headdresses whose torsos are often decorated with patterns of lines. Legend Rock includes the oldest and best preserved examples of Dinwoody tradition rock art known. Enjoy a soak in the mineral springs in Thermopolis and then make the trip up to Legend Rock to see a unique piece of Wyoming’s history etched in stone.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
ON THE WEB:
http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Sites/LegendRock/index.asp
http://thermopolis.com/Attractions/Petroglyphs.htm
AT THE LIBRARY:
Ancient Visions: Petrglyphs and Pictographs of the Wind River and Bighorn Country, Wyoming and Montana, by Francis, Julie and Lawrence Loendorf (University of Utah Press, 2002).
Protect Our Heritage!
Please be respectful of Legend Rock. Feel free to take photographs, but do not touch or deface the petroglyphs. Stay on designated trails and do not pick up or collect artifacts or rocks from the site. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult, and pets must be kept on a leash. Be sure to lock the gate when you leave and place the key in the drop location by the gate.
To report vandalism, call:
Hot Springs State Park Office
307-864-2176
Archaeological Resources Protection Act Hotline
1-800-242-ARPA