Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Small statues of Buddha line the path to the top of the mountain.
Mitaki-dera
A view of the Sandiaoling bike tunnel.
Sandiaoling Bike Tunnel
The old ticket house at League Park now houses the Baseball Heritage Museum.
League Park
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
The Cathedral Café maintains the building’s original church exterior.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.
The Glenwood
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Passersby stop to admire the punny offerings of Brooklyn’s only dinosaur bodega.
We Visited the Dino Bodega in (Jurassic) Park Slope
about 10 hours ago
Native Americans have a longstanding, rich, and vibrant culture in Wyoming.
Wyoming’s Sacred Landscapes: A Journey Through Native American History
about 14 hours ago
This strawberry cucumber sorbet tastes like early summer in a scoop.
Salt & Straw Wants You to Create Your Own Ice Cream Flavors
2 days ago
Catch a glimpse of some of the many wildflowers Crested Butte is known for.
Rodeos, Star Parties, and Festivals: Your Guide to Colorado’s Magical Summer Events
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Nevada Austin Hickison Summit
AO Edited

Hickison Summit

This rest area is also home to a remarkable petroglyph site.

Austin, Nevada

Added By
slgwv
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Close-up of elaborate petroglyphs by campground.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Close-up of elaborate petroglyphs by campground.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
View south from scenic trail to summit.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
View westward from the summit reached by the scenic trail. This is the area where the long loop trails are.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
View from lower scenic trail. The scenic trail running to the summit on the left is visible on the open sagebrush slope skyline.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Block with elaborate petroglyph panel near campground.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Petroglyphs off trail.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Petroglyphs off the interpretive trail.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Petroglyphs off the interpretive trail.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Petroglyphs off the interpretive trail.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
View eastward from scenic trail to summit. Campground below, with the access road from US-50 visible.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Petroglyphs off the interpretive trail.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

About 24 miles east of Austin, Nevada, the "Loneliest Road" crosses Hickison Summit, a relatively low pass separating the Simpson Park Mountains to the north from the Toquima Range to the south.

It is the site of a rest area and campground, located less than a mile off the highway, as well as several well-preserved petroglyphs. An ADA-accessible interpretive trail runs by the petroglyph sites, and a couple of short scenic trails provide views of the surrounding area.

In addition, a trailhead about 1/3 mile north of the campground gives access to several loop trails, each several miles long and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management. These are open to horse traffic, as well as hikers.

 

 

Related Tags

History & Culture Petroglyphs Trails

Know Before You Go

The turnoff to the campground and interpretive site is well-marked. It's just east of the summit, where a graded access road runs for less than a mile to the west of US-50.

There are vault toilets at the picnic site, as well as at the campground. However, there is no water or electrical hookups, and cell phone service is nonexistent. The nearest supplies are in Austin or Eureka.

Community Contributors

Added By

slgwv

Published

July 20, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Hickison Summit
Austin, Nevada
United States
39.449317, -116.751881
Visit Website

Nearby Places

U.S. Route 50

Austin, Nevada

miles away

Stokes Castle

Austin, Nevada

miles away

Toquima Cave

Austin, Nevada

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Austin

Austin

Nevada

Places 7

Nearby Places

U.S. Route 50

Austin, Nevada

miles away

Stokes Castle

Austin, Nevada

miles away

Toquima Cave

Austin, Nevada

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Austin

Austin

Nevada

Places 7

Related Places

  • McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs

    Vernal, Utah

    McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs

    A unique collection of drawings that represent Fremont Native American culture.

  • Dragonfly Trail Petroglyphs

    Silver City, New Mexico

    Dragonfly Trail Petroglyphs

    Hidden in the Chihuahuan Desert resides an amazing collection of petroglyphs.

  • Cairn T

    Ballineale, Ireland

    Loughcrew Cairns

    These Neolithic burial mounds and a still-intact passage tomb may have solar calendar significance on the spring and autumn equinoxes.

  • The entrance is overgrown and largely hidden.

    Kamakura, Japan

    Yatozaka Kiridoshi Pass

    An ancient mountain-cut pass runs largely forgotten in the suburbs of Kamakura.

  • Some of the rock art  in the site

    Taghit, Algeria

    Taghit Petroglyphs

    A set of ancient rock engravings that date back to the Neolithic period.

  • Salt Cave

    Fallon, Nevada

    Salt Cave

    Red ocher pictographs survive in this tufa rock shelter on the shore of an ancient lake.

  • Murray Springs Clovis Site

    Sierra Vista, Arizona

    Murray Springs Clovis Site

    A short interpretive trail about one of the first human cultures in North America.

  • Heritage Village is made up of several different historical sites, including the one-story, wood-framed H.C. Smith General Store, dating to 1915.

    Largo, Florida

    Heritage Village

    Step back in time at this immersive historical village.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.