Medicine Wheel
National Historic Landmark
Personal Notes
This page contains our personal notes on our visit to Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark in Wyoming.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
12:17 p.m.
We arrived at the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark after a drive up Shell Canyon (Big Horn Scenic Byway) and a drive along the Medicine Wheel Passage. The turnoff is signed, and there is a narrow, winding road that climbs up to a fair sized parking area. We didn't see any picnic tables, so we ate lunch while standing in the parking area. Just before we came to the turnoff we had stopped at the nearby Bald Mountain Campground, where we used the restrooms. But, as it turned out, there are restrooms and a small ranger station near the parking area. On this day, anyway, the ranger had a Gott cooler of water that seemed to be there for the visitors. Otherwise there is no available drinking water. There are, however, spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. You'll find yourself just above the tree line, so everything around you is wide open.
It was cloudy and windy on this day, so we took jackets with us as we walked the 1.5 miles (one way) along a dirt road. There is a gate across the road, so only certain people are allowed to drive through. They do have Native American events at this location from time to time, so perhaps they allow closer access at those times. On this day the ranger did allow several ATV riders to pass through. But they seemed to drive past the Wheel and head on down the road as it continued toward the west.
There were quite a few people coming and going along the road, as well as a pair of horseback riders. The walk along the road is not too difficult, but there is some climbing, especially on the return trip.
There is another ranger at the fenced Medicine Wheel site, with another vault toilet. But, again, no water. The Wheel site sits upon a flat area on top of a ridge. There are the 28 spokes radiating from the central cairn, with little monuments located at several places around the wheel. There are all sorts of items tied to the surrounding fence, as well as objects left by Native Americans within the Wheel. The feeling is like visiting an historic church in a ghost town or some historic community. Everyone (at least while we were there) seemed respectful of the religious beliefs of those who constructed this amazing geoglyph, and those who have worshiped here.
2:03 p.m.
After walking back to our vehicle along the same road, we headed on back toward our campground in Thermopolis. Continuing west, we took another side trip to visit the Five Springs Falls, then drove down the sweeping curves of Highway 14A back into the Big Horn Basin far below. We continued on through Lovell and the southern end of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, before turning south on our way back to Thermopolis.
