Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site
4.7(233)google
4.8(5)yelp
ArchaeologyPrehistoricSecluded & Uncrowded
Overview
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). Legend Rock is a petroglyph site which features hundreds of individual petroglyphs spread across the face of the rock. Although a handful of the rock's etchings have variously been eroded and defaced, a wide majority have been preserved for public viewing.
Practical Info
Mon8:00 AM 6:00 PM
Tue8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wed8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeBest visited during spring or autumn mornings between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The morning sun angles perfectly to highlight the deep carvings of the thousands-of-years-old Dinwoody-style rock art, while avoiding the intense, unshaded summer afternoon desert heat.
Getting ThereLocated roughly 20 miles northwest of Thermopolis. Driving is required; take WY-120 North and follow signs onto rural, unpaved dirt roads like Cottonwood Creek Road. A high-clearance or 4WD vehicle is recommended as dirt roads can become muddy after rain. A small parking lot is at the gate.
Travel Tips
- To preserve ancient petroglyphs, the main security gates are locked off-season (October to April). Off-season visitors must physically pick up a access key or security gate code days in advance at the State Park headquarters in Thermopolis to enter.
- The trail flanks raw sandstone cliffs that serve as a high-density habitat for prairie rattlesnakes. Walk strictly in the geometric center of the paths; never stick hands into blind rocky crevices or brush walls while examining the ancient rock art panels.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Touching, tracing, or scratching the petroglyph panels with fingers or hiking poles is strictly prohibited. Wetting the rock surfaces with water or chemicals to enhance photo contrast is a severe wildlife/cultural crime tracked by 24/7 solar security cameras.
Reviews
Positive
- The hundreds of meters of cliffside are carved with countless exquisite ancient petroglyphs spanning millennia, delivering a huge historic shock.
- The entire site is deeply quiet without tour group noise; the well-built flat boardwalk lets you inspect carving details up close.
- The attraction is free to enter, and the gatekeeper is incredibly welcoming, proactively handing out high-res illustrative booklets.
- The surroundings embrace a strong wild vibe, equipped with clean shaded picnic tables and restrooms kept neater than average wild sites.
Heads up
- Management is strict; in off-peak months, the gate is locked, and visitors must pick up a physical key and permit from a distant town center.
- The location is hidden and remote, requiring a drive down a long, dusty unpaved dirt road where GPS frequently loses tracking in the final 2 miles.
- Because the glyphs are fully exposed to nature, some precious early lines have become very faded and tough to discern from severe weathering.
- There are zero vending machines or water stations on-site; the valley sun in summer is merciless, making hydration and heavy sunblock vital.