The cliff face that holds the ancient art
Thousands of depictions of humans, animals, and abstract figures line the cliff face and the insides of the small caves dotting the area. Some of the earliest glyphs were carved over 1000 years ago, while the more recent are 150-200 years old.
A small Elk/Deer Petroglyph (about 8 inches long)
The most fascinating part of the site to me are the incised hand prints. Ancient or modern, the ways human hands made an imprint in this rock over time fascinated me. With these hand impressions, the ancients left very personal touches here, and maybe something of their spirit too.
Hand imprints gouged into the sandstone
A horse drawing incised into the wall of a cave
A horse and rider glyph, defaced by modern-day blue chalk (do not do this)
If you visit, you'll note that a few modern people have defaced some of the ancient art by chalking outlines. Please do not do this! I know, it's tempting as some of the art can be difficult to see at some times of the day. But please leave the chalk at home. The chemicals and chemical pigments in the chalk can permanently damage the art. And most of the time we modern humans chalk the outlines wrong, anyway.
Your best bet is to photograph the art in the mid to late afternoon, then use photo editing software to manipulate the image to bring out the artwork.
Two small bears incised into the rock.
Another bear figure
Make sure to walk the entire length of the cliff face - there are thousands of individual glyphs here and it takes time and a good eye to see them all. Some of my personal favorites are the bison panel and coyote/wolf glyph, below:
The bison panel
Depictions of bear paw prints
A very large glyph of an Elk or Deer (about 5 ft long)
Coyote/Wolf glyph
Coyote/Wolf glyph, manipulated to highlight the art
I love this ancient art because it gives me a very tangible, human link to some of my ancestors. The people who created this art had a beautiful aesthetic sense, a great reverence for nature, and a ton of patience. I'm grateful that they left this legacy for us to enjoy and learn from.
Mid to late afternoon is best to visit. The sun angle is better for viewing and photographing the art later in the day.
The Site:
- Please do not deface the site in any way. Don't mark up the rock art, and please don't leave trash behind.
- Pit toilets are available at the parking area.
- The site is child-friendly.
- The site is not easily accessible by traditional wheelchairs.
- You may share the trail into the site with some friendly cattle. Please do not approach them or disturb them in any way.
Precautions:
- Watch out for Rattlesnakes and Horse Flies during the warmer months.
- Avoid the area after a rainstorm - the roads will be extremely slick with wet clay and almost impassible.
- Make sure you have enough fuel in your vehicle.
- Carry extra water and food.
- Take sunscreen and a hat if visiting during the heat of the day.
Getting There:
- Travel north on Hwy 191 from Rock Springs, WY.
- About 10 miles north of town, turn right onto a dirt road that is marked by a sign for the Petroglyphs.
- Continue on this road for about 14 miles and watch for another sign for the Petroglyphs...turn Left onto the dirt road leading to the site.
- After about 3 miles you'll come to the parking area for the Petroglyphs. Park here.
- Walk about 1/3 mile along the footpath to the actual Petroglyphs - the Petroglyphs will be along the lower cliff face to your right.
Other Info:
http://www.tourwyoming.com/things-to-do/attractions/white-mountain-petroglyphs.html
