Castle Gardens Petroglyph Site, Archaeological site in Fremont County, Wyoming.

Castle Gardens Petroglyph Site covers a 6-mile by 1-mile band of vertical cliff faces in Fremont County, Wyoming. The petroglyphs are incised into the rock and show water turtles, circular shields, and human and animal figures. The shield-bearing figures are called Castle Gardens Shield style images.

The rock carvings were created between the 10th and 13th centuries by people connected to Navajo and Apache cultures. The site was listed in the National Register in 1969, making it an officially protected archaeological location.

The circular shield figures are called Castle Gardens Shield style images and are found only in this area. Researchers agree the carvings were made by Athabaskans related to the Navajo and Apache between 1000 and 1250 AD. Water turtles and human figures appear alongside the shields on the cliff faces.

Reaching the site requires a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle because access roads are unpaved and rough in many sections. Allow extra time for the drive, as the routes from nearby towns cover considerable distance.

The shield designs found here display carving methods and patterns that differ clearly from rock art at other locations. These particular motifs make the landscape a scientifically important place for researchers and those studying ancient art.