Last Chance Canyon, Canyon and historic district in Kern County, United States
Last Chance Canyon is a canyon in the El Paso Mountains that stretches from Saltdale to Black Mountain, featuring diverse rock formations and archaeological sites. The area contains extensive landscapes with varied elevations and natural rock structures that have formed over millions of years.
During the 1800s, the gold rush drew many prospectors to this area, who established numerous mining camps. These activities left marks on the landscape and generated archaeological interest for future study.
Archaeological discoveries within the canyon include Native American pictographs, village sites, rock shelters, and stone tool manufacturing locations from different periods.
The site is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and allows visitors to hike on established trails and camp in designated areas. Off-road vehicles may travel on certain routes, but visitors should stay on marked paths and bring water and protective gear.
The site contains rock paintings and villages from Native American cultures spanning different time periods, revealing insights into early ways of living. Visitors can also discover workshops for stone tool production while exploring, showing how ancient peoples used available resources.
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