Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site is located on the western slope of the Big Horn Mountains in northern Wyoming. Take Highway 16/20 to Manderson and turn onto State Route 31. Travel 21 miles to Cold Springs Road, then County Road 52 and follow the signs to the park. From Tensleep, take the lower Nowood road to Hyattville, and then follow Cold Springs Road to County road 52.
Medicine Lodge is home to a large sandstone cliff that displays hundreds of Native American petroglyphs and pictographs. This rock art is directly associated with the human habitation of this site dating back more than 10,000 years. Information about the archaeological digs and further research of this site can be found in our visitor center and library.
Approximately 27 individual campsites with picnic tables and fire rings are available for RV’s, tent camping, or picnicking. All sites are a close to vault toilets and potable water hydrants. A reservation-only group area and shelter is available to accommodate special events and large groups.
Wildlife is abundant at Medicine Lodge and the tens of thousands of acres of adjoining public land. Elk, Deer, Moose, and Mountain Lion all live here along with an abundance of small mammals and more than 100 species of birds. Medicine Lodge Creek is an outstanding brown trout fishery.
Medicine Lodge serves as a great base camp and trailhead for access to hundreds of miles of trails for horseback riding. Public corrals are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Several developed nature trails offer visitors fun, self-guided activities for all ages. A universally accessible sidewalk follows Medicine Lodge Creek and offers turnouts for access to pools in the stream.