Any longtime adventurer of Nevada’s landscapes can tell you that when exploring the desert, you’re bound to come across anything. You could live here your whole life, spending each day wandering the landscapes, and STILL not see it all. This is one of our favorite things about Nevada. Nothing is off-limits, and there’s always something worth seeking out. For instance, this little-known canyon tends to fly under the radar for most people. However, it happens to be home to some truly incredible ancient artifacts from our state’s very first inhabitants. Seeing this amazing place should be a priority for any adventurer, so keep reading to see what you’ll find here.
One of the largest petroglyph sites in Nevada is hiding in a little-known canyon near the town of Lockwood, just east of the Reno-Sparks area. Lagomarsino Canyon is a true hidden gem that acts as an oasis for those who love Nevada history.
The site itself is downright impressive. It's not very easy to get to, as visitors will have to traverse a tangled web of backcountry roads (4WD is highly recommended). However, once you get there, you'll be so glad you made the journey.
Lagomarsino Canyon contains 2,229 rock art pieces. It's one of only eight rock art sites in the state to be honored on the National Register of Historic Places. Boasting a quarter mile of bizarre and eye-catching rock formations, this place is unlike anything you've seen before.
The scale of this petroglyph site makes it obvious that the canyon was of notable significance to native tribes. It's impossible to tell exactly how old the petroglyphs are or who left them, but some are expected to be around 10,000 years old.
Photographs of this mesmerizing place were first taken back in 1904 by a man named John Reid of Reno. An anthropologist named Julian Steward took interest in the site for his 1929 work "Petroglyphs of California and Adjoining States". However, the canyon wasn't thoroughly documented until 1958.
The solitude of this place is truly something else. Most people who make it out here don't come across even a single soul. A rugged, 10-mile hiking trail is often used by adventurists seeking some isolation.
This is one of those destinations that leaves visitors in awe of the ancient treasures our state contains. It doesn't matter how long you've lived here or how much of Nevada you've explored; there's always another surprise waiting for you.
