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Adventures�
STORy anD PhOTOS By
kEnT & ChaRLEnE kROnE
Sculptured Mas
Would you like to camp and ride where
humans have lived and evolved over the last
10,000 years? How about standing where
previous people have stood and painstakingly
scratched messages into rock?
Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site
is unique. Riding opportunities here will
take you through different vegetation zones,
including lush canyons and open ridges with
incredible vistas.
A Colorful History
Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site
is located near the western edge of the Bighorn
Mountains, six miles northeast of Hyattville,
Wyoming.
This area was first homesteaded more
than 100 years ago. Local ranchers were well
aware of the abundance of pictographs and
petroglyphs. However, it wasn’t until 1969
that the full archaeological wealth of the
area came to light.
A series of digs has uncovered a human
habitation site at Medicine Lodge that has
been continuously occupied for over 10,000
years. Archaeological investigation involved
digging through 26 feet of soil, discovering
more than 60 cultural levels spanning thousands
of years of human occupation.
Today, the park consists of camping areas
surrounded by manicured lawns, a wall of
petroglyphs on one side, and a meandering
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stream on the other. Nearby are large corrals
for public use.
Mesmerizing Trails
Several rides exist right from camp. For a
mesmerizing canyon journey, ride straight
north from camp up Dry Fork Canyon. As
you enter the canyon, the aptly named
Sculptured Ship Rock looms on the right.
This ride follows a primitive, rough, fourwheel-drive
route closed to motorized vehicles
until July 1.
This canyon ride reveals Earth’s face, ravaged
and pockmarked, with deep folds and
fissures. Looking down, we could see the
canyon bottom, daintily trimmed in shrubbery
lace and cooled by a frothy stream.
For another ride out of camp, go just
below the corrals, and take the small dirt
lane behind the barn that heads west. Here,
you’ll find cross-country, wide-open riding.
Ride to your heart’s delight!
A Sensual Feast
Paint Rock Canyon is the area’s premier
ride. Located on good graveled roads, the
trailhead is about three miles southeast of
Medicine Lodge. Ask the park manager for
directions.
Prepare yourself for a sensual feast! A
feeble attempt at describing this ride would
be to compare it to a ride through a miniature
Zion National Park in Utah.
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