Medicine Lodge Creek
Prehistoric Site
DATES OPEN:Most site grounds open year round, weather permitting; visitor center open May 1 through September 29.
HOURS: Grounds open 24 hours
FACILITIES: Visitor center with displays, camping, picnic areas, corrals, drinking water, fishing pier, playgrounds, restrooms, telephone, trails, and viewing areas. For reservations, call 877-996-7275 or visit www.wyo-park.com. Note: restrooms and drinking fountains closed from November 6-April 30.
ADMISSION: No fee for site visits; camping is $6 for Wyoming residents and $12 for non-residents. Guided bus tours are $2 per person (call 307-469-2234 for availability).
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE: Yes, visitors with disabilities may use a motorized vehicle to access the site. All other visitors must walk 1.5 miles on a gravel road from the parking area to the site.
LOCATION: Approximately 6 miles northeast of Hyattville—from Worland, take Hwy. 16/20 north to State Route 31 and head east toward Hyattville. Turn onto Cold Springs Road and follow the signs to Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site.
Medicine Lodge
Known for its petroglyphs (carved rock art images) and pictographs (painted rock art images), Medicine Lodge is one of Wyoming’s premier archaeological sites. Rock art covers the face of a 750-foot long sandstone bluff, which shelters the area at its base from wind. Here, archaeologists have found evidence of human habitation stretching back 10,000 years. Interpretive signs along the base of the bluff guide visitors through the history of the Medicine Lodge site and the surrounding region. Located near abundant water and five different vegetation zones, which are home to hundreds of species of wildlife, Medicine Lodge has been an attractive place for people for thousands of years. Today, visitors can learn of Medicine Lodge’s extensive history while enjoying excellent trout fishing, wildlife viewing, and camping near the beautiful Big Horn Mountains.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
ON THE WEB:
http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Sites/MedicineLodge/index.asp
AT THE LIBRARY:
Sacred Objects and Sacred Places: Preserving Tribal Traditions, by
Andrew Gulliford (University Press of Colorado, 2000).
Protect Our Heritage!
Medicine Lodge has been used for thousands of years by humans and wildlife alike. Help preserve the site for future generations by keeping motorized vehicles on designated roads and trails and by leaving all artifacts and plant life undisturbed. Please note that pets must be kept on a leash, and digging is not allowed. Additionally, the following items are prohibited: firearms, fireworks, glass containers, metal detectors, and fires located outside designated pits or grills.
To report vandalism, call:
Medicine Lodge Office
307-469-2234