Wyoming is home to numerous rock cairns, also known as sheepherder monuments, which were built by early federal surveyors, homesteaders, and herders to mark section corners, claim boundaries, or line-of-sight pathways.
History of Rock Cairns
These historic rock piles are scattered on private ranches and public Bureau of Land Management areas, serving as navigational markers, supply drop locations, and creative outlets for the state’s sheep-grazing country.
Some notable locations with rock cairns include Sweetwater County, Campbell County, and Carbon County, where frequent stone cairns dot the landscape near Elk Mountain and the historic sheep wagon routes.
Visitors are advised not to disturb these rock cairns, as they are important to the state’s history.
Original reporting: K2 Radio (Casper) — read the source article.
