I visited here with my wife during an anniversary getaway. We both love living history and walking among historical features that you can visit and explore. Everything here was exciting to read about, there's plenty of walking paths if you're up for that...... so fun! Definitely wouldn't mind visiting again read more

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park - October 2022 - Campgrounds Near Me - Pine Grove, California

The host was extremely rude to my kids, even though they were quiet. My kids ( 6 yearold) playing at 7:45 Am ., and the host threatened to call the police and told us to pack up. It made us feel very uncomfortable and unwelcome. I would not recommend staying here if you have children. The house is not kids friendlyI don't recommend read more

This is a really well-maintained historic park. I went early, so there was plenty of parking space available. Left of the museum is the North Loop Trail. Had a nice short walk and enjoyed looking at the tall trees. Then, I went back towards the museum and went on the right side. This side has clean restrooms and the meadow to the grinding rocks and reconstructed Miwok village. Highly recommended stop if in the area. read more

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A hidden gem of a state park! We visited for Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend. We got a tour of the museum, the grinding rocks, and even the round house, where no pictures are allowed due to it being a sacred space. I took a very short hike through the woods too. We learned so much about the Miwok Indians, who still hold traditional get togethers here. read more

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Indian Grinding Rock has always been one of my favorite state parks. It was the first state park my wife and I camped at years ago; my father and I would stop by here on our trips to Silver Lake, and our kids always loved the park as well. It had been a few years since our last visit when my wife and I stopped by on a spring weekday. This park is a little off the beaten path, and there were only a couple cars in the parking lot. We started first at the museum, and were impressed by the changes and upgrades since our last visit. Wonderful educational displays of the Miwoks and other tribes in the area, their daily life and history. The Ranger on duty was very friendly and gave us more information about the park and what was going on in general with the State park system these days. Turns out like everyone they are having trouble attracting and keeping people at the moment. We took a lovely trail that started just outside the museum and wound its way through lovely tree Woodlands. It was quiet and peaceful, and we were the only ones on the trail. It's mostly level, with some mild uphill, but the end of the loop was closed so you have to retrace your steps. We then wandered through the Miwok Village, a recreation of Village dwellings and spiritual gathering places. The highlight are the hundreds of acorn grinding holes in a large rock outcropping - the largest grinding rock in North America - that you can admire while standing on an overview deck. In the past, we used to be able to walk on the grinding rock directly, but wisely that is protected now. We also walked through the campground, and in early April during the week there were only a few campsites taken. But the Ranger told us it's very popular on the weekends, even in the spring, and a reservation is recommended. This park is a gem! read more

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Easy, flat hike of less than 2 miles, but so rich in history. We loved every bit of the park, museum, hike and would highly recommend experiencing and learning about it yourself. $5 parking and registration, includes the museum walk through. Enough benches/picnic tables all around, including overhead shades. It's super hot around June-July - so don't forget your cap, sunglasses and a bottle of water. Recommend reading through all the info boards throughout the park and museum - full of rich history and cultural insights. Enjoy! read more

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Stopped in at Indian Grinding Rock State National Park to visit the museum and take a nice little hike to see the sights. This was so cool to see all the grinding rocks and see the TeePees and the Roundhouse. The museum was very informative about the Indians lives, rituals and traditions. They have a lot of artifacts, beautiful Indian baskets, tools they used, Head dresses that the Indians wore during ceremonial gatherings. This is a must stop in when you are visiting this area. It is $8.00 a car and that includes the museums and all the sights. read more

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I've been to Indian Grinding Rock State Park a few times over the years. While the park is somewhat small, it's impact is rather large given the importance of grinding rocks on the native population. This park is on Pine Grove Volcano Road between Pine Grove and Volcano. Funny how that works! The park has an exhibit building that describes the history of the native people and the significance of the area. Over the years, people carved shallow holes in the exposed rock to grind acorns into flour similar to corn meal used as a primary food source. This meant the area was also a major social and political center where many deals and babies were likely made! The rock and other replica structures are the real draw and are still used by local native groups. You can hike back along the river and explore the grounds without too many people. It is a nice place to explore the natural landscape of the lower Sierras. There are a lot of interesting places to explore near Volcano in the lower Sierras. Indian Grinding Rock State Park is a nice way to expose yourself to the long native history of the area and it's importance to the area. It's a quick and good stop. read more

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park - Main Grinding Rock with Miwok Shelter Replica - Campgrounds Near Me - Pine Grove, California

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We stopped in to see the Chaw-se Indian museum and talk to the park ranger who explained so much about the Miwok Indians. It was fascinating and we enjoyed walking around and seeing the native plants and trees and Miwok village. What else when it's a dreary rainy day. The winter houses were interesting. I particularly enjoyed the huge baskets with the decorative designs used for cooking, and gathering acorns. read more

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Awesome history lesson people!! You must visit! The museum is small but has a lot of interesting stories and helpful staff to tell you the answer to any questions you have.. the grinding rocks are very cool! These women busted their asses to grind flour for their families. The trails are great, although we only did about 2 miles. I loved the round houses and was totally intrigued how they still use the one standing ( not authentic, but built with authenticity) Favorite part- I was wondering about the obvious some kind of sports field was.. the info sign was titled "grab the ball, or a girl?". Indian football. They still do it today here on this spot! I was talking about forever, still am. Lol. So, 2 teams. Boys vs girls. Different rules for each. Boys can only kick the ball. Girls tho can hold it grab it, throw it. BUT if she has it he can grab HER and run! I would love to watch one of these games! Wonderful stop on our trip! Highly recommend! read more

Amazing experience because we had the entire park to ourselves with a private guided tour from Chloe. When we arrived, there was a group of kids just leaving so since they had extra staff, we were given the red carpet treatment. We first toured the Roundhouse, which is the setting for social events, and ceremonial events. Although we could not take pictures inside, we were allowed to view the interior. We then walked over to the grinding rock and Chloe was able to point out several petroglyphs that we would not have seen had she not pointed them out. We then were also able to see the Miwok village and game field. Very nice of Chloe to take us around and give us a personal tour of the park. read more

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What a great park and campground to visit! We were fortunate enough to stay at the campground for a few nights and also to have multiple visits to the state park. The museum and state park is peaceful, calm, and very educational. When we went, they just opened the museum so we were super lucky to visit and not a ton of people were around. The museum has a lot of artifacts as well as information and visuals for giving the history of the area and the Sierra Miwok people. For me, to visit the history of Native Americans is always a strange dialectic between a reminder of the great tragedies that befell and continue to impact modern Native Americans and appreciation of their culture. Being mindful of history so we do not repeat it is important. I'm glad I was able to learn in detail how the Miwok people lived. The Grinding Rock, reconstructed village, playing field, and other features around the park were impactful and fun to learn about. We took the south hiking trail twice over the days and learned much about the local ecosystem! There is a neat little guide at the beginning of the trail by the reconstructed village that will guide you to information posts along the trail. Highly recommend! The trail leads back to the campground/state park and takes about 30 minutes, mostly uphill so be aware of that. The north trail looks fun and I hope to visit it in the future. The campground was a wonderful experience and different in a few ways from other campgrounds. First off, the bathrooms were spotless and were cleaned everyday. That made a big difference for me as the showers were also very clean. The camp host is a great guy and his 6 month stay was almost up. He told us the campground is open year round, and gets some snow every year. He also said that the campground is never full, but recently weekends were pretty full, mostly due to covid I'm sure. We stayed at campsite 12, which was a good site. The whole campsite is elevated but they also have a couple of accessible campsites. It seemed that where people place their tents are not slanted or anything so that was good. Firewood is available for $5/bundle. Some people were pretty loud (when are they not) but all in all we appreciated our neighbors. I look forward to camping here again one day! read more

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My husband And I went to Indian Grinding Rock State Park for the first time this week. We were on a day trip to celebrate our thirteenth anniversary, and I wanted to stop somewhere beautiful and spiritual. This historical site definitely was the perfect destination. Located near a campground, the park is located in a quiet nature area near the town of Volcano. There is an entry/parking fee of $8.00 but it is worth it. Upon arrival, you can check out a museum designed to resemble a traditional roundhouse. In the museum there are many artifacts from coastal and valley tribes such as the Miwok and Maidu. The baskets on display are especially stunning. The information on the walls give you a good idea what life was like for the native people during the Gold Rush. There is also a nice little gift shop area where you can buy items made by members of the local tribes as well as books, t-shirts, and state park souvenirs. After checking out the museum, we walked along paths that led to the largest grinding rock in North America, an authentic roundhouse built in 1974, giant, majestic oak trees up to 400 years old, and teepee like dwellings called umachas (not sure if I spelled that correctly) made from cedar bark. The open spaces, soaring birds, and peaceful breeze on this summer day made this a memorable place. I highly recommend that others come check out this area. read more

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Love the drive to get to the park. I'm always a fan of windy roads with tall trees that make you feel like you're traveling into another world. The park itself is well kept and most of the main attractions are paved so it is accessible for all folks. We went on the weekend and there were a few groups there as well. Face masks were worn. They offer a few trails that are easy to do and doesn't take much to complete. What makes the journey even more interesting is the different type of plants that you can encounter throughout the walk. It's definitely a wonderful place to walk through. The grinding rock is also a sight to see. It was such a privilege to have step foot into this park and we definitely made sure to walk with care and ask for as much permission as we can to be in this sacred space. The museum was closed due to Covid. Gift shop was open and there are a lot of handmade items that were beautiful. Please buy some of them and support the native artists! Parking lot is big. Don't forget to bring $8 in cash or you can head to the gift shop to pay. read more

This was a great find! We were on our way to the Black Chasm Cavern (which I highly recommend) and we made the stop on the way back. It was only $8 to park and no entry fee per person!! There was a free museum with wonderful facts about the Miwok Indians. There are teepees to go into and the coolest deck view of the actual grinding rock that the Miwok Indians used to grind acorns. There are short trails which are filled with gorgeous nature and there is even a camp ground nearby for extended stays. The weather was superb even in February and this was an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this spot as it's beautiful, enriching and has so much to offer and see. read more

As a teacher, I brought my students here many times. Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Great experience

Sense of peace, great hiking, informative museum, knowledgeable, friendly staff. The Big Time is a great introduction to current culture.

We had been exploring the historic little town of Volcano for much of the morning then stopped to have sandwiches at Daffodil Hill. We were having such a nice time that we didn't arrive at the Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park until mid-afternoon. It had been many years since I last visited this park, and I can sadly admit that I am now 0 for 2 in visiting the Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum. The museum closes at 3:00 PM on weekdays, and I just happened to miss that important fact in my trip planning. My friend had never been here before. So as it was my friend and I spent a couple of hours here anyway walking the North Trail and exploring the reconstructed Miwok village and the different grinding rocks. There are two nature trails within this park, and both feature much to learn about the region, its history, the nearby Indian tribes, the plants and the fauna. The North Trail is an easy one mile loop that takes visitors past all of the key exhibits within the park while the South Trail is a half mile loop which explores more plant life and gives visitors a glimpse of the campsite area. There are printed trail guides available at the trailheads to help you examine and understand what you are seeing. I've always enjoyed seeing the Miwok village here which features the cone shaped bark houses, a ceremonial Roundhouse and a game field. There is a wooden platform built above the grinding rocks and petroglyph area to protect it from harmful visitors. The picnic area is well kept with picnic tables and grill pits available on a first-come, first-serve basis. I'll keep my review short as I plan to return in time to actually go inside the museum. Also, I've only posted a handful of photos as the photos posted by previous reviewers seem more useful. read more

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This is both a wonderful repository honoring native California living locations, cultural history and items, as well as fostering respect for our natural world. The ceremonial house is a wonderful meditative spot. Highly recommended. read more

So we drive up, it's a self register park. Grab the envelope, stuff $6 in it, fill out the BS on the front and put the parking permit on the dash. Then we pull into the parking lot. Soaring trees and the sounds of nature surround us. I'm immediately transported to a simpler time, free of all the annoyances of modern life. We entered the "The Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum" which is designed to resemble a traditional roundhouse. The displays of baskets, Native American tools, and various other items were beautiful. The museum itself is a beautiful, if simple piece of architecture. The nice women working in the Museum made sure we knew all about the park, the museum, where to find the grinding rocks, and where the hiking trails were. I was in a "non-social" mood but they kept working on me anyway =) gotta love persistence. It certainly improved my mood. We went out the back door of the museum and were struck by the beauty of the area again. From the museum exit we saw amazing meadows, gorgeous trees, and great wood "houses" I would call them tepees myself. The first, and largest grinding rock is pretty close to the museum. It was OK, a rock with a bunch of holes in it from being used to grind acorns into meal. It looked like perhaps the site had water in it at one point with the way the rocks were worn, and the fact that there weren't holes on certain parts of the rock. Next we headed for the South Nature Trail. It is a 1/2 mile loop designed to be(here's where I rip off their website a little) " a self-guided interpretive path keyed to a park pamphlet. As you tour meadowland, oak woods, plus stands of sugar pine and ponderosa pine, you'll learn how the Miwok collected and used the bountiful local vegetation." There was a cute little stream along the way, the hiking was pretty easy only a few little hills and it smelled AMAZING. The vegetation was so fragrant and wonderful I was wondering how to get that smell into my home. We didn't camp there but the trail went along the edge of the campgrounds and several people were there. It looked like a decent camp site. I went stressed & semi-grumpy, I left in a state of bliss like I had just received a 2 hour massage. I want to go again SOON! read more

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This is a nice park for the entire family, but I wish we could bring our dog on the hiking trails.

Great Park for young and old alike. Beautiful area and lots of flat walking for young children. The park is clean and well taken care of and the museum is interesting too. Very educational for kids and adults. Wonderful outing, well worth it! read more

We went to Indian Grinding Rock SHP because we wanted to check out Daffodil Hill nearby & this is on the way. It's 126 miles, 2hr17min from my place in Fremont to go here, so a long day trip. They have a campground, but we didn't stay. Campsite is $25/nite; Seniors $23/nt. Day use parking is $8; $7 for Seniors. Pay at the Self-Registration by kiosk. Bring Cash, cuz they don't take Credit Cards. Maybe if the museum is open you can pay inside, we did the self-registration. Museum hours Fri-Mon 11am-2:30pm. We got to check out the museum. It's small & you can read about Indian history. We did the 2 trails at this park. North Trail pretty easy 1 mi loop, we saw a couple wild turkeys, then did the South Trail .5 mi. If you only have time for one - do the South Trail - you'll see the Grinding Rocks, Huts, we saw one lizard by the Grinding Rocks. Bathrooms on the outside of the Museum in the back. Flushed toilets available. Several areas for picnics. Worth a stop. We spent 2hrs there & brought our own lunch (no food available there). read more

Since the Mr. and I were at Daffodil Hill, we decided to check this place out. We had absolutely no idea what to expect, we just thought we were going to look at some grinding rock and that was it. I didn't think we were going to stay as long as we did. You have the choice of either camping here or making it a day trip. If you're camping here, go to the second IGRSHP sign for the camp grounds. The first sign is for day trippers like myself. As soon as you park the car, be sure to check out the little museum. Inside were woven baskets, ceremonial costumes, replicas of how their habitats looked, and every day tools. There were also books and other memorabilia to take home. After checking out the museum, we checked out the bedrock mortar and the petroglyphs. It has an observation deck so you can be right in the middle of the grinding stone. Behind that are what look like three tepees but they're made of wood. You can go inside them but be on the lookout for the cute little gecko-like lizards, they're everywhere but harmless. Across that is the gaming area, if you come here at the right time they actually have ceremonies and celebrations where everyone is invited. We walked further down the path and stopped where the ceremonial roundhouse is. WOW! How the hell did they build this? It was pretty crazy in an architectural sense, especially when you consider they lacked the technology we have today. The inside of it had a small fire going so smoke could come out of the hole at the very top. Near the roundhouse is a shaded picnic area which accommodates 150 people . Be sure to bring food with you as you are in the middle of no where. The bathrooms are located on the ground floor of the museum. At the end of the path is the Miwok Plant Trail/South Nature Trail. Be sure to take a booklet with you, located inside the brown metal box. You will learn so much more this way, rather than just going up some path you know nothing about. The booklet is numbered one through fourteen, these correspond with the 14 different posts along the trail. It's a relatively easy trail to walk, not very steep at all and easy for the kids. There is also a north trail that I didn't even know about, I believe it goes behind the museum. If you plan on camping here, they have 23 camp sites with paved parking. There are even food lockers, piped water, and restrooms. I would love to come back here again when I have kids so we can camp. There were a lot of children around the park and they all looked like they were having a really great time. read more

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Grinding Rock is a really nice little place to relax and enjoy a piece of history. I enjoyed speaking with the workers in the Museum. They were kind and had much information to impart. We had a nice dialogue as well. One of the workers was Native and told me about some of the traditional ways of growing and harvesting that have become difficult due to the effects of mining on the landscape. I'm really happy that they're working hard to preserve our natural world. There are easy trails to hike, and the bark houses are fascinating. You can actually camp in some of them. Of course, the Grinding Rock itself is impressive. I actually walked here from Pine Grove, although I wouldn't really recommend that approach for most... it's a long climb back up the hill. It's worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

Hiking around this place is so much fun! I brought my best friend and his significant other here last summer and we hiked all the trails and had a blast. The history is interesting to learn about and it is a great place for a picnic. read more

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Brought my sister from Tennessee to this amazing tranquil place. We paid our admission in the gift store/museum and as we were browsing, we were treated to Michael the State Park Ranger playing the flute. It touched our souls. Sooo moved by his music. After we walked around to view the historic park. I believe the Miwoks hold their pow wows twice a year there. Such a wonderful moving park. So treat yourself and drive on up. Sooo worth the drive. read more

Been here for an event and chaperoned a field trip. Very nice park, very cool place. The staff is very nice and informative. The grinding rock itself is so neat to see! read more

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What a great way to combine learning with the outdoors! This review is for the day use, not the campground. We met up with another family for a total of two adults and two kids. We got there at about 11:30 and spent 3 hours wandering around the park and hiking through the two trails. It was a great way to spend the day while social distancing. Bonus: CLEAN BATHROOMS! read more

We have been here a number of times before and always love to go back. We stopped in on a clear, warm afternoon recently and literally were the only ones in the park. We strolled through the exhibits, checked out the museum, took a little hike through the trees and when we got back to the parking lot there were now 3 cars instead of just ours. Simply a very lovely, peaceful afternoon surrounded by so much history and beauty. read more

I wanted to camp here and couldn't get through. Come to find out the voicemail greeting confirms they are aware of phone trouble. I then harassed them by fax (I googled it), but still no action. Five days later I received a call from a nice lady, but 'me-walked' it already. O.K., that was lame. We camped elsewhere (see my Pine Grove camping experience---oh boy). We made this a day trip and explored the soil that the MiWok once inhabited. First we checked out the IGR campsites we gave up for the trailer park at Pine Grove. About half of the 23 shaded campsites were available. There was potable water (but icky to drink), and there are showers and restrooms. $20 per night with free admission to the park, trails, and museum. Super Deal! What was amazing is we pretty much had the place all to ourselves. First we checked out the facts at the museum and talked story with the curator lady while in my peripheral a quiet and decorated 70-somethin' year-old volunteer smiled and attentively awaited any question one may wish to ask. I say decorated because I'm pretty sure he was adorned with a scout patch or two, medals---or maybe a shiny pin,a hat, and plaid pants? He was so cute and I know a few more shifts he will be busting out with knowledge. Anyway, we played with the tools, interacted with the exhibits, played with the mortar and pestal for grinding acorns--which by the way was really interesting. We even tested our new knowledge with the quiz board that lights up. After we tired of the facts, aced the quiz, and left a donation, we continued on to the North Trail (with no map), looped around maybe twice, found our way to the South Trail, drank the icky water, crossed a couple of small bridges, pointed out the wild flowers and wormwood we learned about, and then found the teepees. Three little boys were having a blast with them. How lucky were they to camp out here in this little world and play among the teepees and huge oak trees? I can't wait until my grandson gets old enough to enjoy this place. The grinding rocks were interesting, but didn't see any petroglyphs. I did see very meticulous and abstract wood carvings near the picnic area, but my husband pointed out that they were the work of "termites" not natives. Anyway, we had a nice private picnic lunch and I know, I know, the signs said no alcoholic beverages, but we just had to break bread with a glass of wine. Plus other people broke the rules---the sign said no dogs on trail, yet there were droppings and we saw a couple with a dog. Also, we visited the museum before we had the wine so it's not like we would have annoyed anyone. But the dog poop---come on! read more

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Indian Grinding Rock - Camping and Museum $25/night camping (senior discount available); $8/day parking (if you're not camping - parking is included in the nightly rate) PROS: Smooth, level tent pads at each site Nicely sized fire pit Running water, flush toilets, and showers Restrooms were very clean Restrooms were lit! CONS: Camp sites aren't very private - open to the camp road Several sites are closely spaced Close to the main road so you can hear traffic - thankfully it's not a busy road Stayed here the last weekend in August. Out of 22 sites, only 3 were occupied - including ours - so we had a lot of privacy. If all the sites were full this would probably be a miserable place to stay. The sites weren't very private, and they were pretty close together. Still, it's out of the way, so I can't imagine it fills up unless it's the peak of peak season, or there is some event going on near the museum. The museum - it was nice, and the rangers are friendly. It was pretty small - it's not a long stop. The round houses and grinding rock outside of the museum are nice - if you're a rock or Native American history fan, it's definitely worth a visit. read more

This is worth a stop if you have kids who were a bit bored with Daffodill Hill or Volcano, or if you want a quieter place ot enjoy a picnic lunch.. My recommendation is to take Hwy 88 from Jackson and ignore your GPS directions, to save wear and tear on your car. Can be a long day trip if you live in the Bay Area, or about 90 minutes from Sacramento. Don't think you can breeze through this park without paying your fee - you will get a ticket!!!!! You need cash, they don't take credit cards, and I would not recommend a check. During our stop, a staff member was walking around checking cars, and we were sitting in our car, about to leave, when she approached us. (we paid at the kiosk, fortunately) There is a museum, a village, some hiking trails, picnic areas, and all kinds of places for energetic kids to walk around and explore. The trees are spectacular, and I appreciate the effort made toward preserving the Mi-Wuk culture here. read more

This is a beautiful and peaceful place to walk around and learn about the Mi Wok Indians way of life. There are no concessions so make sure you bring your own food and drinks! There are plenty of places for picnicking. Lots of tables and grass areas. read more

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park - Beautiful area in Volcano, CA - Campgrounds Near Me - Pine Grove, California

This is a wonderful place that should not be missed if you come to Amador County. The new round house, the museum, the actual grinding rock itself that is SO fascinating to contemplate, there's a lot here. You can camp if you like and a great time to see it is at their annual big events, one of which is coming up at the end of this month, on the weekend of May 25th. The other really fun time is Big Time, the 4th weekend of September and the dancing in the round house, the vendors and craft making events and so much more is on display at those times. read more

I had visited this park a looong time ago on a school field trip, and had fond memories. Now, going back as an adult, I was even more enchanted... First off it probably helped that we were literally the only humans there, not a ranger, employee, or visitor in sight! So we got to meander and enjoy it like it was a private park! It's such a peaceful place, and has such a sense of calm (at least when you're there by yourself, maybe not so much if a bunch of school kids are running around). They are currently doing some construction on two of the roundhouses, hope those are finished soon! Also, I couldn't help but notice that this would be a fantastic place to have a wedding or party; that could certainly help raise money for the park (maybe they already do this, I'm not sure). They have a small amphitheater area, and picnic area by a kitchen, it would be such a cool venue, now I'm trying to think of an excuse to have a party there myself! Anyway, it is a beautiful and interesting place, please support our parks and stop by! read more

Our family spent a little hike at grinding rock and wasn't disappointed. A nice place to learn and explore. The history and the way they preserve the park is what makes it quite memorable. They have ample parking and well maintained bathrooms which we appreciate having a 6 month old little adventurer with us. read more

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All women should go to this. I don't know what it is about the rock itself but seeing a space where women would work for hours is inspiring and gets you in touch with the past. It truly feels like a living space. read more

A nice quiet place to enjoy a walk and a picnic. The main grinding rock is impressive. The visitor center is okay it could use some updating. read more

We stopped by this park on the way to the caverns for a picnic. Then we walked a ways through the trails. We saw the giant grinding rock which was pretty cool. There are longer hikes available and a small museum that explains more about the native tribe and all the various plants and herbs they used. There are some displays of their homes as well. I might go back some time and go inside the actual museum. Parking is easy and you self report to the woman at the desk. read more