Tehipite Dome pictographs

[abauer253]

Hi All. I'm headed out on a hike from Wishon Reservoir to Tehipite Dome and beyond. I would really like to see the native american pictographs near the base of the dome. Gaia lists a "painted rock" and gives coordinates for it at a location very near the base of the dome. I'm assuming this is wh ere the pictographs are, but I don't want to go all that way and find out I made the wrong assumption. Does anyone have precise coordinates for the pictograph or a good description on how to find them? Thanks!

[limpingcrab]

I hope you have better luck than I did! I went to the location for "painted rock" on the USGS quad maps and didn't find it (granted I didn't look for a super long time). Maybe Gaia has a better location or someone on here is willing to share precise coordinates but I wouldn't be surprised if people don't want to post that online.

[hurricaniac]

It is about 6 feet from the MFK river on an overhanging rock. After crossing Crown Ck., work your way upstream eastbound on the MFK river while hugging the river, It's a bit of a thrash and overgrown. You can't find it from the trail.

[abauer253]

Thanks!!

[Bernard]

Would love to know how your trip went/goes. I hope to return this year to Tehipite for the first time in 15 years. hurricaniac is on point, the pictographs that are most shared/spoken of/posted are surprisingly near the water.

[abauer253]

Short answer: I found the pictographs. Long answer: it was a really arduous trip. The trail from Crown Valley to Tehipite hasn’t been maintained in a long time. Tons of downed trees and shrub growth. Often lost the trail. GPS a must. Continued up Middle Fork Kings and trail was just as bad up to Simpson Meadow. The Gaia app has GPS coordinates for Painted Rock that are almost spot on. Just search the house-sized boulders facing the river. They’re on an overhang facing the water but you really have to search for it. I’ll try to post a full trip report soon.

[Bernard]

Thanks for your timely response. I remember from my last (and only trip) that there were moments when following the trail was a challenge with growth and fallen trees. The Gaia tip means a lot - THANKS. On my last trip, we did find the Painted Rock almost more to "say we did" but it certainly is an interesting part of the adventure. For now, the goal is to get there and back safely. My crew is considering a short hike from the trailhead on day 1 to simply chip away some distance. One quick question for now, did you observe rattlers? TV has its share. Thanks so far. - Bernard

[limpingcrab]

Happy to hear you found it! My first time out there wasn't long after the trail was maintained and even then it often wasn't super clear because cows are sometimes out there in the summer making their own trails. Not to mention the fires and beetle kill zones.

[Lenier]

There are cows in that valley? That's fascinating. What's the history there? Are they a self-sustaining population?

[bobby49]

Starting 150 years ago, cattle herders would keep their herds in the Central Valley over each winter, and then drove them up to the high country for summer.