Tag Archives: Little Lake
Fossil Falls
The view from the top of Fossil Falls
Fossil Falls is located in the Coso Mountain Range, just a short distance from Highway 395 near the privately owned Little Lake Ranch. If you are coming north on 395, from the Little Lake main gate on the right continue 1.79 miles, and turn right on Cinder Rd., from Cinder Rd. follows the signs to the Fossil Falls parking area. If you are traveling south on 395, follow 395 for 21.13 miles from the Beef Jerky store in Olancha. When you reach Cinder Rd. make a left, and follow the signs to the Fossil Falls parking area. From the parking area there is a short quarter of a mile hike to the falls.
The beautifully carved out and smooth basalt stone
This amazing formation came to be after the last ice age. Water from glaciers melting on the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range flowed down into the valley creating lakes and rivers (Owens Lake & Owens River). The river flowed down the Indian Wells Valley, and when volcanoes in the area erupted the river became diverted over the basalt flow which polished and reshaped the rock into the unique manner in which we see it today.
The area around Fossil Falls was inhabited by the Coso Native American people 10-20 thousand years ago. The now dry river was an ideal camp location with its free flowing water. The last Native people to live around the Fossil Falls area was the Timbisha. This is the same band of Native Americans that inhabit and call Death Valley their homeland today. There is plenty of evidence that remains today of these early inhabitants including petroglyphs, obsidian chips that has been brought down from the Coso Mountains to chip arrowheads and other tools, as well as house rings, and campsites.
Sheep petroglyphs located inside of the falls
Petroglyph located inside of the falls
If your interest is in the petroglyphs of the area you will need to be able to do some climbing. All of the petroglyphs are located inside of the falls, and the only way to reach them is by climbing down from the top. It is not a difficult task, but for the more timid you may second guess yourself before you even begin. In order to find some of the other Native American features of the area you have to be willing to explore the area. There are not specific trails set aside, you have to make your own. This is the only way to see the house rings, and campsites that the Native Americans lived at.
This petroglyph is well hidden inside one of the basalt tubes. It looks like a flower, but is most likely an atlatl.
If you are interested in camping at Fossil Falls, there is a small camp ground with eleven spaces available. The campground fee is $6.00 per night. The camping area has a restroom, a hand pump for potable water, fire rings and picnic tables.
Little Lake – Coso Style Petroglyphs & Pictographs
NOTE: Little Lake is private property – trespassing is against the law
Little Lake features three major area where petroglyphs and pictographs are prominent. On this visit I had the opportunity to visit two of the major, and a few of the smaller sites. I will focus on the two major sites, and one of the smaller sites.
Major site 1:
The most extensive site is located on the southeastern side of the lake along a basalt cliff. This location has roughly 500 petroglyphs, most of which are of the Coso Style, and Great Basin style. A number of designs are abstract, but yet there are also a good number that are more traditional. The most interesting aspect of this location are the pictographs (paintings). There are at least seven painted designs intermingled with the petroglyphs. The paintings are in red paint, and are sadly fading with time making it more difficult to see them with the naked eye (the photos that I am providing of the paintings have been enhanced to bring out the designs more). According to the published research of Grant, Baird and Pringle, the paintings are “rectilinear abstractions unlike anything in the region.”
Major Site 1: Over 500 petroglyphs are located at this site.
Major Site 1: There are several pictographs (paintings) at this site. This particular pictograph is possibly of a long horn sheep.
Major site 2:
This location is on the north end of the lake (quarter of a mile) along a dry stream bed. When Grant, Baird and Pringle studied the area they dubbed this location “Atlatl Cliff,” due to the large number of atlatl petroglyphs that decorate the cliff side. The atlatl (a large throwing spear that was used by Native people before the introduction of the bow and arrow) being in such high number would likely make this a location where hunting occurred, and the atlatl being etched into the stone so frequently possibly represents hunting magic. It is highly believed that when there are a large number of weapons, and (or) animal etchings present that the Native people made these etchings before a large hunt to bring them “luck”. In all “Atlatl Ciff”, has over one hundred designs, with over thirty of them being of the atlatl.
Major Site 2: “Atlatl Cliff” has one of the largest known concentrations of atlatl petroglyphs.
Major Site 2: This particular boulder that is covered in atlatls is found in the dry stream bed below the cliff.
Minor site:
The minor site is located a short distance from “major site 2″. This site is located in what was once a cave home to the Native people. The cave is known as Stahl Cave, and is believed to have been occupied by the Pinto Basin people over 3,000 years ago, Basketmaker people roughly 1,000 years ago, and the most recent being the Shoshone Indians. An excavation of the cave was performed in 1957, during this excavation the skeleton of a Pinto Basin person had been uncovered, as well many baskets. In the back of the cave there is roughly a dozen crudely etched designs. The designs are mostly made up of long horned sheep, and stick figure humans.
Minor Site: Stahl Cave, where a Pinto Basin persons skeleton has been excavated. The back of the cave has a dozen or so crudely pecked designs
Minor Site: Long horned sheep, and stick figure humans
In all, this is a fascinating location filled with rich history dating back many thousands of years. I hope to be able to return in the near future to document further the sites that time didn’t allow for on this first visit.
2013 Guided Tour Option
Books by Death Valley Jim
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Secret Places in the Mojave Desert Vol. III
Analyzing Rock Art of the Mojave Desert Vol. I: Pictographs
Secret Places in the Mojave Desert Vol. 1
Secret Places in the Mojave Desert Vol. II
Rock Art of the Upper Mojave Desert
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