jeffers petroglyphs historic site

very interesting rock carvings. easy to find. got lucky and the building happened to be open the day I stopped. The carvings are kind of hard to see but the interpretive signs really help.

This historic site is a bit difficult to find, it was not on my map and my GPS put me to the edge of a field and told me we had arrived. After calling and speaking to a helpful employee, we found Jeffers Petroglyphs on County Road 2, about a mile south of the intersection of County Road 10, just west of Comfrey, MN. The admission charges are $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17, and free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members. Would recommend bringing sunscreen and a hat, as this is the open prairie and the sun is very strong.There is a small but interesting visitors center where there are several hands-on display items. We did see the short introduction video but felt that we could have skipped it- it really didn't tell us anything we didn't already know.Would highly recommend taking a guided tour- you will see so much more than you would on your own. The guide had special tools for blocking and reflecting the light at a very low angle, which made the carvings pop out, when previously in the bright sun we could hardly see them. Also, the guide gave good information on the history of the area and the site, and the best guesses as to what the carvings were meant to signify.We enjoyed our time here and would definitely return again.

There are a couple of ways to get to Jeffers Petroglyphs, so don't be surprised if you get lost on the way trying to find the correct two-lane highways around Mankato. There is a nice interpretive center with an interesting film that introduces you to the area and the Native American people who carved the petroglyphs. The petroglyphs are very hard to see because they are so old. If you are very interested in ancient rock carvings and/or Native American history in Minnesota, it's worth a visit.

We showed up at exactly the wrong time, noon, to see the petroglyphs, but luckily there was a tour. The tour guide had a neat contraption to cast a shadow and shine a low-angle light on the rock so the petroglyphs jumped right out. The guide's interpretation was worth the mid-day hot weather in the Minnesota summer. We learned a lot and enjoyed the history and the stories. We are already trying to figure out how to get there again, but this time early in the morning.

Looking for something to do in this area of Minnesota, I came across the Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site. I was really not sure what to expect, and I was unsure if it was worth the drive since it was a little out of our way. It certainly was! It was one of our favorite stops during our week long vacation through four states.The interpretive center was nice, but we really enjoyed walking through the prairie to see the petroglyphs. It was beautiful and peaceful walking through the prairie grasses and seeing the wildflowers. I would recommend taking the long walk around site.Of course, we enjoyed seeing the petroglyphs too. It is amazing to think that many of them were carved thousands of years ago. Their website stated that tours were available only at certain times, but on the day that we were there, they had interpreters at the site the entire day. They were very informative.Even if it is out of the way, a visit to the Jeffers Petroglyphs is worth the drive!

Our guide pointed out the carvings, which was very helpful. The interpretive center has displays and items for sale. It is a great place to go to learn more about Minnesota Native American history.

The Petroglyphs are a great stop to learn about the history of the prairie. The carvings are well marked so you can really make them out. The interpretive center also has a lot to offer. They do a few special programs each year and all are worthwhile. It is a few miles off the beaten path, but it's an easy, pleasant drive. The site is wide open so the kids can get out and run around and you'll all learn a great deal.

This park has one of the few truely untouched native prairies around. They have planted some to expand it. Awesome to get a glimpse of what all of southern MN looked like.

I have lived an hour or two away from here most of my life and have never been before this visit. The grounds and flowers are beautiful! The carvings are amazing! I am so glad that we went. Our tour guide was amazing! I wish I remembered her name, she said she had been there for 12 years and that she loved it! Thank you!!

The trails out to the petroglyphs is very pretty with the wildflowers. My hubby is from this area and hadn't been there is years. It's impressive to see all the carvings in the flat rock.

Call ahead and find a weekend they are doing programs. They do a wonderful job with all their programs and worth the wait. It is important to stop here at the right time of day.

We had a great tour by guide Gary - wonderful history lesson on the petroglyphs - birds, flowers, and amazing artwork on the red rocks - hard to believe you are out in the middle of farm land in sw Minnesota.

We loved our visit to the petroglyphs. Who new they were just sitting there waiting for us. I think they need to adverstise more. I would not drive all the way to Pipestone again. The staff were wonderful and even came out to the stones to pick us up when a sudden thuderstone came up. We also planned our trip when they had experts doing other things like arrow head making and a praire walk. I would definately go back again. We took our small children 9 and 6 and they were very impressed.

The carvings up to 7000 years old and the stories behind them are fascinating, but . . .they are much smaller ( 1-2 feet) than they appear in photographs we've seen of the site and are difficult to see if the sun is not shining. A staff member told us the viewing is best in the morning or on the afternoon tour during which a guide uses a specially designed mirror (if the sun is shining) to make the carvings more visible. The site is not open every day, so be sure to check hours of operation.

A walk of less than 1/2 mile on an easy trail through the prairie takes you from the visitor centre to the petroglyphs. These are various animals, human forms and symbols carved into the surface of the rock by prehistoric peoples. The best time to visit is early or late in the day. At noon the sun shines directly on the glyphs, making them hard to see clearly. The multimedia presentation in the visitor centre struck me as somewhat odd, but some people might like it, so go ahead and see it; it's only 8 minutes long.