Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District, Archaeological site in Canyon County, United States.

Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District is named for Map Rock, a massive basalt boulder covered with petroglyphs, in Canyon County, Idaho. The carvings are attributed to Northern Shoshone people and were made before contact with 19th-century settlers. The district covers 38 acres acquired by Canyon County in 2012.

The petroglyphs were carved into the basalt surfaces by Northern Shoshone people before the 19th century. The site received its name in the 1920s when Robert Limbert examined the markings and recognized a connection to the Snake River valley.

The carvings on the rock surface reveal how indigenous people used and understood their surroundings. Through these images, you can see which animals and places mattered in their daily lives.

The site has no facilities, so bring your own water, food and footwear for uneven ground. Map Rock and its 38 acres were acquired by Canyon County in 2012, and access to some areas may be restricted to protect the carvings. The rock lies about 30 minutes by car from Boise.

Robert Limbert named the rock in the early 1920s after reading the carvings as a map of the Snake River valley; some authors have argued that if it is a map, it could be the oldest in the world. In 1924 a plan to move the rock, or cut pieces of it, to the State Capitol grounds in Boise was dropped, but the rock had already been damaged.