Located in the U.S. state of Nevada, the Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area offers public access to ancient petroglyphs made by prehistoric people who resided near Hickison Summit, situated at the northern tip of the Toquima Range and the southern end of the Simpson Park Mountains.
This recreational site, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, can be found 24 miles (39 km) east of Austin on U.S. Route 50. Positioned at an elevation of 6,500 feet (2,000 m) above sea level, the area lies on the western periphery of the Monitor Valley within the vast expanse of the Great Basin.
The park showcases a self-guided tour covering a 0.5-mile (0.8 km) trail adorned with numerous petroglyph panels, offering visitors the opportunity to admire the region’s high-desert flora and enjoy breathtaking vistas of both the Toquima and Toiyabe mountain ranges, as well as the Big Smoky Valley.
Facilities at the site include 16 campsites, a day-use area, toilets, grills, picnic tables, and trash cans; however, there is no access to water. The name Hickison Summit was given in honor of John Hickerson, the owner of a nearby ranch, and the road leading to the Hickerson ranch traverses
this summit.
In close proximity to Hickison Summit, one can find various prehistoric hunting and living sites that date back to 10,000 B.C., along with more recent remnants such as mining camps and ranches. Notably, the area also served as part of the trails once used by 19th-century explorers John C. Frémont and James H. Simpson, as well as the routes of the Pony Express and the Overland Stage.
During the earliest stages of the prehistoric era, the Great Basin was home to expansive lakes, including Lake Toiyabe and Lake Tonopah located in the Big Smoky Valley to the west of Hickison Summit. As the climate gradually became arid, these lakes receded, leading to the replacement of the former lake-dependent cultures by hunter-gatherer societies. Upon the arrival of the first European-Americans around 1850, the region was inhabited by the Western Shoshone people.
Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area
US Highway 50
Austin, NV 89310
(775) 635-4000
https://www.BLM.gov/visit/hickison-petroglyph-recreation-area