Petroglyphs of Picture Rock Pass, Oregon

20 December 2022

Oregon’s high desert, Central to South-East Oregon, is my personal favorite part of the state for its awesome, beautiful natural landscapes and rock formations.

If you happen to stop on Oregon Route 31 right between Silver Lake and Summer Lake, you can find some ancient man-made additions to those rock formations.

Picture Rock Pass is home to a collection of ancient Native American petroglyphs that you can easily walk to from the side of the road.

The Wikipedia article ages the drawings at between 7,500 and 12,000 years old, and it really is humbling to have those numbers in mind when you reach the site. It took me six hours to reach Picture Rock Pass, but walking up and seeing the petroglyphs in-person was worth it.

Make sure to be careful around the petroglyphs if you visit this wonderful site. They are fragile, but can (and hopefully will) be preserved to be enjoyed by visitors for many more years.