Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area

One of our favorite campgrounds… we come every year. The best part… IT’S FREE. No water and pit toilets but the views are amazing and the Milky Way at night is fabulous. Austin is about 25 miles west if you need ice, not much food to be had there other than a couple of small restaurants. It’s VERY quiet out there. The Petroglyphs are cool and the trails are easy. Find the hot springs just down the road, you’ll be glad you did. In fact, we will be there again in a week.

One of my favorite places to take guests who are not from the West. Coming here really makes you feel like the OLD Wild West! Be prepared — there’s not a whole lot of cover here and the direct sun in the summer can be brutal. The trails and signage are good and the petroglyphs are fun. Lots of respect for our state for preserving this on the Loneliest Road In America. A great place to stop for a little bit of a break on a long, empty road.

Make sure you bring water and toilet paper. There are no running water hoses out here and bathrooms a more like outhouses with a hole in the ground. If you happen to come here at an off time you might need to provide your own teepee. Put on very good walking shoes as the trail is all loose gravel and there will be climbing involved. It is about .6 miles or roughly can be walked in 30 min. There are several off trails and alternative roundabouts which is great for you to explore. Bring your water with you and your camera.
Let’s begin. Before going on the search for the petroglyphs, stop by the small metal box on a stand and sign the guest list. Turn around and facing the notice board there is another metal box with a brochure and map inside. When you are done with the map, recycle, which means return the map back to the metal box in the same condition you got it so the next visitor can enjoy the park as well.
If you read the map correctly then the trail is to the right of the notice board. If you completely failed to read then you must have either started at the big rock which is the end of the trail or wandered into the adjoining campground and trailhead that have nothing to do with the petroglyphs. As you follow the map there are markers on the ground that coincide with the number on the brochure. If you plan to walk off trail make sure you use the already made trails by previous visitors instead of making new trails. If you make your own trail you might unknowingly trample over natural plants and destroy the rock lined trail that have been so meticulously laid out for you as a guide.
If you do decide to venture off trail be prepared to get dirty. I would only encourage the experienced hiker and not all off trails are kid friendly and may be a challenge. The first off trail is off of marker 6 to the right, which takes you up atop of several rocks. Be careful as the rocks are loose and may fall. Use caution and better judgement. This is a great lookout point if you are in search of the sunset. The second off trail is near marker 7 or 8. If you find yourself walking up rock steps go to the top and look to your right. There is a trail already carved out and will take you closer to the ridges that oversee the parking area. This site gives the best view of both the east and west side. Great for waiting for the sunset but bring your flashlight as you will need it when you climb down. Again loose gravel and may require you to climb with your hands in some areas. From this marker if you are heading back to the main trail, make sure you completely follow the trail back down from the rock steps and go left. If you decide to take a «short cut» down the hill you will definitely trample natural plants the park is working to preserve. At marker 9 as you round the turn keep your eyes out as there are lizards that hang out in the shade here. Screaming and jumping around does nothing to get the lizards attention and will only aggravate other visitors so keep your excitement at a reasonable volume. If you reached the big rock that is kept fenced up then you have made it to the end. Dust of your shoes and clothes, return the brochure to the metal box, grab a quick bite and rehydrate before you head back onto the road.
A great hike for all skill levels. Great for kids. If you stay on the mapped out trail the walk is between easy and moderate in difficulty. Great picture taking opportunities. Great sunset viewing. Have a safe journey.

Stopped here to make a little supper before heading back home. Sorry, we did not view the petroglyphs. However, we did take advantage of the quiet, well-​kept picnic area, nestled in the tall pines. We enjoyed the delicious solitude of the place, although the picnic tables are so low to the ground as to be almost unusable.
Nice place to to a break from the Loneliest Highway.

Lonely part of a lonely road. Best kind of solitude.

When driving Highway 50, known as the loneliest road in America, you can’t help but look for any opportunity to take a break. The Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area, about 20 miles east of Austin, provides primitive camping and a hiking trail that leads you to petroglyphs, some over 10,000 years old. The short hiking trail and petroglyphs can be appreciated in an hour. Add a packed lunch to the break and you’ll be reenergized for the road.