Jeffers Petroglyphs: Ancient Native American Rock Art in Minnesota
In the prairies of southwestern Minnesota lies one of the state’s most remarkable historic sites—the Jeffers Petroglyphs. This sacred site is the largest petroglyph site in the Midwest. Jeffers Petroglyphs features over 5,000 ancient Native American rock carvings etched in stone as far back as 7,000 years ago.
The site is little known outside Minnesota, but it certainly should be. Visiting the Jeffers Petroglyphs offers an excellent opportunity to connect with the region’s cultural roots. The carvings depict animals, humans, hunting scenes, and spiritual symbols, telling stories of the people who lived and thrived on these lands for millennia.
Walking Among the Jeffers Petroglyphs
The carvings are best seen in the early morning or evening when sunlight casts shadows that make the images stand out clearly against the rock surface.
There are two options for visiting. Guided tours last about 45 minutes and offer a chance to not only learn about the petroglyphs but also explore Native American traditions and stories about the area. If you have the time, this is highly recommended.
You can also take a self-guided tour, where you can see the same petroglyphs, but you will not have the bonus of someone who knows the history. That said, there are some informational signs.
Jeffers Petroglyphs Tour Route
There are eight stops along the tour route, which is a short walk from the Visitor Center and parking lot. At the first stop, look for baby moose or bison next to the hoofprint, canine, and thunderbird petroglyphs.
A little further down the rock face, you come to stops two through five. At stop two, you can see several types of atlatls. The atlatl is a spear-throwing technology found worldwide. Archaeologists believe the atlatl began appearing in this area about 5,000 years ago. Also, look for a bison and a bison pelt.
Next, at stop three, notice that the carvings here are arranged in a circle. Historically, Native People composed pictorial narratives that were read clockwise. Rock carvings of this style are typically found in the Pacific Northwest. Petroglyphs here include a bison, a four-legged animal, an arrow, a split circle, and historical graffiti.
Human Figures
Just past there, you come to stop four, which showcases human rock art. The stick figures in this set of rock carvings have bent limbs, which may have been used to show motion. It’s thought that they are dancing in a ceremony or ritual.
The next stop is believed to depict maps used by Native Americans. Historically, dots represented overland trails, circles indicated towns, and wiggly lines signified rivers. In this set of carvings, there is a small herd of bison, next to a town, near a river connected to a system of trails. A person with a spear is on the dot line trail.
From here, you continue down the trail to stops 6 through 8. Stop six, you will see a huge bird track. Bird tracks are one of the most common carvings at Jeffers. You will also see hoofprints and handprints here.
Stop seven dives into Native American tradition. Many people native to North America tell stories about a hero named One Horn or Red Horn. The Ho-Chunk and Ioway people who once lived near Jeffers Petroglyphs tell stories of a hero named Red Horn. The Creator sent Red Horn to rescue humanity. The petroglyphs here include an arrow, a bird track, a canine, footprints, Red Horn, and more.
Stop 8 has the most Petroglyphs
The last stop along the tour route is the most impressive. This section is full of rock art. The two largest are a hand with an eye inside of it and a beautiful profile of a woman’s figure. Archaeologists believe the image of the Hand with Eye represents the entrance to the spirit world, which is found in the “hand constellation” we know as Orion. This image was drawn on copper, stone, pottery, and shell objects throughout the Mississippi River basin from 900 CE to 1650 CE. The figure resembling a side profile of a woman is another popular image to emerge from the same time period and tradition. Petroglyphs here include the First Woman, Hand with Eye, handprint, and hundreds more.
Nature and Prairie Trails
Beyond the rock carvings, the Jeffers Petroglyphs are surrounded by preserved tallgrass prairie, offering a peaceful setting for walking and birdwatching. The prairie blooms with wildflowers in the summer, creating a beautiful contrast to the ancient stone carvings.
Planning Your Visit
The Jeffers Petroglyphs are open seasonally, typically from late spring through early fall. The small visitor center features exhibits, artifacts, and a gift shop. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for walking the trails and bring a camera to capture the scenery—though remember to treat the carvings with respect, as this is a sacred site.
Jeffers Petroglyphs is three miles east of US Hwy 71 on Cottonwood Co. Rd. 10, and one mile south on Co. Rd 2 in southwest Minnesota.
Photo Credit: Ben Schaffhausen
