Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site - Wyoming State Park (and SP campgrounds)

[Boudicca908]

I've greatly enjoyed time at Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site SP and campground. The state park is a real gem, with hiking trails, petroglyphs and pictographs, a beautiful creek (fishing permitted with license), flora and fauna -- a green oasis along the western slope of the beautiful Big Horn Mountains. Archaeological digs have revealed over 10,000 years of human occupation at this site -- a rare find in North America.  

There are dry camping sites, electrical sites, reservable sites and some that are strictly FF. If you decide to come here, be sure that you are:   (1) looking at the correct campground, as there are others called 'Medicine Lodge' that are part of the Forest -- and those might be fine, but this one is within walking distance to most of the park's public areas;   (2) carefully studying the route and the road conditions before you venture away from wifi/cell reception, because google and apple maps will suggest a road that is a washboard dirt road -- and there is even a sign that suggests it's the way to Hyattville -- but there is a better path. 

You can read about the park here:   https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/medicine-lodge

I used the "Lower Campground" -- sites 1 through 9, but there are very nice sites scattered throughout the park, all of them along sections of Medicine Lodge Creek. 

Lower Campground, site #7 is in the middle -- other sites are around the perimeter. 

Some of the petroglyphs

view of Medicine Lodge Creek in the park 

 

 

If you're coming from the west, take 31 from Manderson. If you're coming from the east (south) take Lower Nowood Road (NOT the Ten Sleep Hyattville Road) and STAY on Lower Nowood Road until you reach the junction with 31 (Do NOT follow the green highway sign that points to the unpaved washboard road to Hyattville).  Go east on 31 from Lower Nowood and turn on Cold Springs Road, then to County Road 52 (unpaved) following signs to the park. 

Edited Saturday at 03:50 PM by Boudicca908