Shoshoni, WY, part 4

About four miles east of Shoshoni, along Highway US-20/26, are these unusual rock formations which stretch close to a mile on the north side of the road. We pulled off and took a hike.

Here is a link to a satellite image of this area.

Embedded in the sandstone are these hard, rounded rocks.

With erosion, the rocks eventually fall out, and birds make their nests there.

Above is just one of the dried stream beds which run from the old US-20/26 (see photograph below) toward the new highway.

Here is what the stream bed looks like as it extends northward on the other side of the old highway.

The shot below looks south at the newer highway.



I took this shot to show one of the many enormous ant hills:

In this semi-arid climate, it is interesting to see what grows on the rocks.

Below, in the foreground, is an interesting example of the sandstone underneath with two of the harder, round rocks resting on top and leaning against one another.

As we walked back to the car, I snapped this final shot.

See also Shoshoni, WY, part 3, part 2, part 1.

link: index to photographs

Hell's Half Acre

Fifty-six miles east of Shoshoni, between the rest area along US-20/26 and Powder River, is Hell's Half Acre. The sign says this scenic area is closed (the parking lot is blocked off), but this doesn't prevent people from stopping and taking pictures. While we were there, we saw a steady stream of cars stop and the passengers get out and go around the fence to view this beautiful area.

Before the restaurant and other buildings were demolished, this is what it looked like. The article states that part of the movie, Starship Troopers (1997) was filmed at this site. Here is a satellite image of what the park looked like before the buildings were torn down.

Here is what the sign below states:

HELL'S HALF ACRE

This unique setting of natural beauty covers approximately 320 acres. Viewed from a point of maximum depth, its walls and pinnacles show soft and varied hues comparable to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Investigation has confirmed that in former days the Indians drove great herds of buffalo into this depression for slaughter. Flint arrowheads and buffalo bones have been found here. A detachment of Captain B.L.E. Bonneville's party visited this site in July 1833. This area has been dedicated to Natrona county by the Federal Government.

Click on any of the photographs to enlarge them.

link: index to photographs