Coso Rock Art District

The Coso Rock Art District is a historic area holding over 100,000 petroglyphs carved into basalt rocks spread across multiple canyons. The carvings span different zones where separate artistic traditions are documented in the stone.

The petroglyphs date back roughly 10,000 to 19,000 years, documenting early human presence in North America after the ice age. Over this long timespan, multiple groups of people left their marks carved into the stone.

The carvings show bighorn sheep, human figures, and tools etched into stone by artists across many centuries. These images reveal how ancient people hunted and lived in this mountainous region.

Access requires advance registration through Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest, followed by a substantial drive and hike through remote terrain. Visitors should prepare for local conditions and allow adequate time to explore the different canyon areas.

The site lies within Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, which has protected these ancient artworks from vandalism and preserved their original condition. This location within a restricted area ultimately proved crucial for saving these valuable historical records.

Location: Inyo County

GPS coordinates: 35.96911,-117.67856

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:54