Castle Gardens

I discovered Castle Gardens by accident when planning the trip - maybe a google search on Wyoming Petroglyphs - and only later recognized the connection with McPhee's book (see below).  It's not exactly on the main road.  And the BLM doesn't advertise it heavily, in part to protect some stunning native american artwork with a history of vandalism. But both the geologic landscape and the rock art are well worth the trip - as long the the road is dry. I suspect these roads would be impassable after a rain storm.


I re-read John McPhee's Rising from the Plains this spring in anticipation of this trip. It's partly about the geology and the landscape of Wyoming, but it's built around the geologist David Love, whose family's homestead and ranch was just a couple of miles west of here.