Petroglyphs & Mammoth Hunting
Celebration Park is a few miles south of Melba, ID. In 1989 it was established as Idaho’s only archeological park. The visitor center is only open from 10 am – 2 pm daily. It is worth planning your visit to be able to access the visitor center services. They have spotting scopes set up so you can look across the river at the nesting hawks and eagles. You can also get a free walking tour of the petroglyphs and even try your skills at mammoth hunting using an atlatl on the atlatl range.
The Approach
As you approach Celebration Park, you’ll first come to the old bridge, which has become a footbridge to reach the trails on the other side of the Snake River. You’ll turn left here to head towards the Celebration Park parking area. You’ll drive past the admin building on the right side which is probably gated closed, and drive a little further to the parking lot.
From the parking lot, you will see the atlatl range and, to the right of it, the visitor center. If you have arrived during visitor hours you can go inside the visitor center and ask for a guided tour of the petroglyphs or to try the atlatl range. Look around first and maybe buy a sticker to remember your visit. Chat with the friendly staff and look through the spotting scopes to see the nesting birds on the cliffs across the Snake River.
Fees for the area
Day Use: $2 per vehicle
$5 per night (3 day limit within 30-day period)
Camping areas are available on a first-come, first-serve basis only.
Day use and camping fees are payable by envelopes in fee boxes (one located on south border of main parking lot; one located just west of the Visitor Center, one located at entrance to East End Campground).
Groups of more than 50 people must obtain a special permit from the Director of Canyon County Parks to camp overnight.
No electricity or RV hookups.
Potable drinking water is available outside the visitor center.
Visitor center restrooms are open 24/7.
Season Pass: $15, Seniors: $5
Season passes are available for purchase in the visitor center, from 10 AM to 2 PM daily.
*As we are a county-operated park, we do not accept Idaho State Parks Passports in lieu of payment. Day use and camping fees help support the maintenance and improvement of our facilities.
Camping Guidelines
Quiet Hours: The time period between ten o’clock (10:00) PM of one calendar day and seven o’clock (7:00) AM of the following day. During quiet hours, no generators or other motorized equipment emitting loud sound and exhaust shall be permitted to be in operation; provided, however, that vehicles entering and exiting the campground are permitted.
Cleanliness: Campers shall keep their campgrounds and other use areas clean. Garbage and other solid waste shall be placed in the garbage cans provided.
Liquid Waste: All liquid waste shall be held in self-contained units or collected in watertight receptacles in compliance with state-adopted standards and dumped in sanitary facilities provided for the disposal of such wastes.
Unattended Campgrounds: Campers may not leave their camps unattended for longer than one camping day, except by written permission of the park manager or his/her assistants.
Additional Rigs and Vehicles: All boats, trailers, rigs, and motorized vehicles of all types must fit entirely within the campsite parking spur provided with the assigned campsite. All second vehicles, including trailers, boats, rigs, or other motorized equipment which do not fit entirely within the campsite parking spur must be parked outside the campground in an area designated by the park manager. If no outside parking is available, a second campsite must be requested.
Camping Equipment & Personal Belongings: All camping equipment and personal belongings of a camper must be situated and maintained within the assigned campsite.
Campfires: Use of fires is restricted to designated grills and fire rings. Canyon County Parks may prohibit all campfires during times of high wildfire danger, check our website for updates on seasonal fire restrictions.
Pets: Leash Required. Pets are allowed within a county park or recreation area when confined in a vehicle or controlled on a six-foot (6′) leash. No person shall allow their pet to create a disturbance that might be bothersome to other park users.
The Petroglyph Trail
If you can get the guided tour, great! If not, I will post a map here that should help you find most of the petroglyphs in the area. This map is not comprehensive and a few other petroglyphs exist, so have fun and do a little exploring if you have the time and inclination.
The trail is less than a mile long in total. The path can be difficult to follow so if you get a little off the main petroglyph path, take a moment to reorient and keep exploring.
You may be wondering what the difference is between a pictograph, a petroglyph, and a hieroglyph. It basically comes down to the method of creation and whether or not it has syntactic structure.
Pictograph: Uses some form or paint or ink to paint a picture onto a medium like cloth, stone, or paper. These images have no syntax and typically are used to represent something in the natural world.
Petroglyph: Like a pictograph, these are images made to represent something. However, instead of paint or ink, these images are pecked into stone using tools or other stones.
Realistic petroglyphs: These petroglyphs depict realistic images of animals, plants, humans, and other objects. They are often detailed and show a high level of skill and artistic expression.
Abstract petroglyphs: These petroglyphs are more symbolic in nature and use geometric shapes, patterns, and abstract designs to represent ideas or concepts.
Figurative petroglyphs: These petroglyphs depict human figures, either in isolation or engaged in various activities such as hunting, dancing, or ceremonies.
Zoomorphic petroglyphs: These petroglyphs depict animal figures, often with a high level of realism and detail. These can be either wild or domesticated animals.
Anthropomorphic petroglyphs: These petroglyphs depict a combination of human and animal features, such as a figure with a human body and an animal head.
Ideogrammatic petroglyphs: These petroglyphs use symbols or characters to represent words or ideas. They can be found in many cultures and are often associated with writing systems.
Landscape petroglyphs: These petroglyphs depict landscapes, such as rivers, mountains, and other natural features.
Hieroglyph: Like a petroglyph or pictograph, these images can either be painted or pecked into a medium or surface. However, the difference is that Hieroglyphs have a syntax to them, making them more language-like than petroglyphs or pictographs.
KMZ File
Atlatl Range
The atlatl range is open when the visitor center is open, from 10 am – 2 pm every day except holidays. To use the range you can ask for help in the visitor center and they will get things set up for you and explain the history and method of throwing the spear. If a staff member is already helping people on the range then simply ask them if you can join. Be respectful of those already on the range, especially if it is a school or organization field trip.
An atlatl, also known as a spear-thrower, is a tool used for throwing a spear or dart with greater force and accuracy than could be achieved by hand alone. It consists of a short wooden or bone shaft with a hook or spur on one end to hold the spear or dart, and a handle on the other end for the user to grip.
Atlatls were used by many prehistoric cultures around the world, including in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. They were particularly common in North and South America, where they were used for hunting and warfare for thousands of years before the introduction of the bow and arrow. Today, atlatls are still used in some parts of the world for hunting and sport, and they have also become popular among enthusiasts of prehistoric technology and primitive skills.
