The Petroglyph Trail, near Bishop

Not far from Bishop a good gravel/dirt road leading out into the desert takes you through the Volcanic Tablelands and Fish Slough, a wetland area, on the Petroglyph Tour.

We followed highway 6 to Five Bridges, past the gravel plant until we reached the information kiosk at the end of Fish Slough Road.

Great views looking across to the White Mountains.

I love these dirt roads, with wide open views and endless skies.

For about 10,000 years Native Americans gathered seeds from ryegrass, needlegrass, basin wildrye and Indian ricegrass, hunted upland game and caught fish and freshwater mussels.  Willows and reeds from Fish Slough were woven into baskets and mats and petroglyphs were carved on the rocks. 

In the 1860’s as settlers moved into the valley Fish Slough became a popular stage stop for travellers heading to the mining towns of Bodie, Benton Hot Springs and Aurora. 

The trees in the far distance are where the stage coach station used to be.

Some of the petroglyphs at the first stop, opposite the old stage coach station.

At Chidago Canyon we were chatting to some members of the local Paiute Tribe who were escorting some children on an educational tour, but if they knew what the petroglyphs meant they weren’t telling.

Red Rock Canyon had the most petroglyphs and these footprints looked as though someone had walked through a tin of white paint.

I don't think I've seen one quite like this before.

It’s an interesting trail with fabulous views and lots of petroglyphs, but I wonder how many more there are that aren’t marked? 

Have fun, we are!