Disappointed. We heard that Greybull was a really neat place to visit so we drove the 65 miles from Thermopolis to Greybull, following the Big Horn River. With the wild fires in Canada spreading smoke south into the States, we were glad we saw the Big Horn Mountains a couple of days ago - the smoke was so thick that it was very hazy, could not see more than a few miles out.
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| Granary for Coors Beer near Thermopolis |
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| Had to have been a rough life for these folks |
Greybull - small town, stores boarded up, has a campground right in town and restaurants and some stores but nothing looked like we needed to visit. We turned around and headed back. Took a side trip west bound and headed for 'look for the small turnoff from the road, you can't miss it, a little Grand Canyon right there!' as the camp host explained to us when we checked in. Yes, we did find it - and wow. Called Gooseberry Badlands. 55 million years ago this area was a lush tropical environment, similar to what Florida is today. Many fossils and bones have been found here. But today - dry as a bone. Animals were probably hiding in dens or under bushes, did hear birds calling.
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| Mushroom looking hoodoos |
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| Part of the loop trail |
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| Saw fresh tracks in mud |
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| We wondered if an animal was inside the cave sleeping |
Hiked the loop trail around the badlands, was very impressed. Saw animal tracks in the mud - had rained there yesterday. Saw bunnies, chipmunks (more like desert pack rats), thankfully no rattle snakes - warning said to beware.
After the hike we continued west and picked up the road heading back towards Thermopolis, but first stopped at Legends Rock site, a BLM managed archeological area. This area has over 283 pictures on 92 rock panels. Some of the petroglyphs have been dated to over 11,000 years old. 11,000 years ago!!! Thunderbirds, elk, deer, people, strange figures, lots of art. Archaeologists do not know why or who did the carvings, only know what the Native Americans today say about them - sacred, spirits, helper beings, etc. Pretty little Gooseberry Creek flowing right near the cliffs where the art was.
Sunday we move on to Cody, Wyoming for a week. Have always wanted to see that area.
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