Last Updated on 30 December, 2025 by Robyn Dockendorf
Wyoming is one of many states with roots in Native American heritage. Dotted across the land are remnants of the culture that dominated the landscape 200 or more years ago. One such site is the White Mountain Petroglyphs.
Take a step back in history at the White Mountain Petroglyphs Site north of Rock Springs in Wyoming’s Red Desert. The White Mountain Petroglyphs are a culturally significant site to the Shoshone, Ute, and Arapaho tribes. The rock art panels feature carvings that are 200 to 1,000 years old, depicting hunting, wildlife, and Native American life.
I’ll cover everything you need to know about visiting the White Mountain Petroglyphs, including where to park, when to go, and how to see this stunning historical art. Let’s go!
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What Are The Petroglyphs?
The White Mountain Petroglyphs site is one of three petroglyph sites in Wyoming. It contains carvings on vast sandstone walls, which are riddled with natural pockets and holes where various birds fly in and out. There is even a short cave where Native Americans may have taken refuge during inclement weather.
Besides the grandeur of the sandstone walls, the carvings are incredible to see and remind us of the indigenous people who lived in the area before us.
Some of the carvings you’ll see include:
- Bison hunts
- Elk hunts
- Geometric forms
- Handprints
- Footprints
There are a few theories about why Native Americans carved petroglyphs. One thought is that petroglyphs created in out-of-the-way places like White Mountain may have been part of a visual quest or puberty rites and were done in solitude by individuals.
Other theories suggest Shaman rituals, ceremonies, idle pastimes, storytelling, and educating the community.
Who Carved Them?
While it’s impossible to tell precisely who carved the ancestral figures into the sandstone face of White Mountain, it’s believed that the artists were the ancestors of the present Plains and Great Basin Native American People.
This would include the tribes of the Eastern Shoshone, Ute, and Arapaho Native Americans.
How To See The White Mountain Petroglyphs
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reports that the White Mountain Petroglyphs receive about 12,000 visitors annually. To put that into perspective, Yellowstone gets about 30,000 visitors per day during peak season.
Needless to say, it’s not a busy place, and you may even have this unique site all to yourself. Getting to the site is another story, though, as the dirt road is a little rough and definitely off the beaten path! Don’t worry; I’ll guide you through the whole process!
Where Are the White Mountain Petroglyphs?
The White Mountain Petroglyphs are located north of Rock Springs, Wyoming. It’s only 28 miles from Rock Springs, but expect to put in an hour’s worth of driving due to the bumpy and washboard-filled road to get to the site.
If you’re driving from Rock Springs, your GPS will try to take you off-roading, so stick with our directions to avoid getting stuck or damaging your vehicle, especially if you have 2WD (like us!).
After you travel to the Petroglyphs, consider continuing onward to Boars Tusk, an old dormant volcano, or the Killpecker Sand Dunes, which are up for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. They’re only a few miles from each other, but with the bumpy road, it could take longer than expected to reach them!
Getting To The Parking Lot
It’s easy to get lost on the back roads of Wyoming! Secure everything in your vehicle, as the road to White Mountain is bumpy. But it’s totally doable in a 2WD vehicle.
- GPS: N41.8895, W109.2599
Here’s how to reach the parking lot from Rock Springs:
1. From Rock Springs, head north on Highway 191 until you reach Chilton Road.
2. Turn right onto Chilton Road.
3. Follow Chilton Road for 5 miles to a Y-intersection. Keep left to remain on Chilton Road.
4. Follow Chilton Road for another 8.4 miles until you see a sign for the White Mountain Petroglyphs on your left. Turn left here. The road should look like a road – not a dirt track. There is a dirt track leading to the Petroglyphs before this turn – don’t take that road unless you have high clearance 4WD!
5. Drive on this bumpy road for about 3 miles until you reach the parking lot.
Hiking To The Petroglyphs
The hike to the petroglyphs from the parking lot is fairly easy, and it takes you to the large sandstone face of the mountains.
- From the parking lot, head towards the White Mountain Petroglyphs sign.
- Jump on the trail and follow the obvious path. At this point, the petroglyphs are ahead and on the right.
- As you get closer to the Petroglyphs, you’ll pass through an opening in the fencing and follow the trail right up to the base of the cliff.
- From here, you can walk to the right and left to explore the many carvings on the face of the cliff.
All in all, the walk from the parking lot to the base of the cliff is about 0.3 miles and is relatively flat. The trail is sandy dirt with no shade, so aim for the morning or evening to avoid walking in the hottest part of the day. If you end up walking it at noon, make sure to use sunscreen like Badger Adventure Mineral Sunscreen Cream to avoid getting burned!
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Tips For Visiting the White Mountain Petroglyphs
Like many sacred sites, the White Mountain Petroglyphs are fragile environments. The carvings are not only a window to the past but also an important history of the Native Americans who still reside in the region today.
When visiting White Mountain Petroglyphs, keep these tips in mind to respect nature and keep these sites open for years to come:
- Do not touch the carvings: The oil from your skin degrades the rock and further degrades the rock art. Avoid touching or tracing the carvings. The famous handprint in this area has been degraded so much that it is now deeply entrenched in the rock where it once stood on the rock’s surface.
- Do not climb on the rocks: The many holes and pockets are tempting (especially for us rock climbers!), but please do not climb on the rocks. Those pockets are fragile and home to much of the wildlife in the area, like birds, eagles, hawks, owls, chipmunks, and squirrels.
- Do NOT carve the rocks: Unfortunately, many people have already partially ruined this historical site by carving their initials into the rock. Don’t be that guy…
- Pets: Furbags are welcome at the White Mountain Petroglyphs. When hiking with pets, always pick up after your dog and be respectful of the land.
- When to go: The best time to see the White Mountain Petroglyphs is in the spring and fall when the weather has cooled off, but the roads are still drivable. The trail has no shade, and it can get extremely hot, even on such a short trail.
The main thing to take away here is that you should leave the Petroglyph site exactly how you found it, or better. Not worse. Always be respectful, pack out your trash, and take nothing but photos.
Wrapping Up Your White Mountain Petroglyph Adventure
The White Mountain Petroglyphs in Sweetwater County are a great way to connect with our past. The people who once lived off the land are long gone, but their impact on our society and our history is monumental. It’s definitely a trip worth taking!
Have you seen the White Mountain Petroglyphs? Have anything to add or have a question? Let us know in the comments below! Your insight may help a fellow hiker.
Now, go ahead and give your furbag an extra pet from us dirtbags, and enjoy your next adventure at White Mountain Petroglyphs! Check out our hiking blog for more hiking guides in Wyoming and the surrounding states!
