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Grazing in Nevada

Did you know, that despite being the driest state in the U.S., over 60% of Nevada is used for grazing livestock? Ranching is so intertwined with the economy and history of this area, that for the first 12 years of Great Basin's national park status, grazing was actually allowed inside the park.

Sheep herding in the Great Basin goes back to the late 1800s, and for many of the sheepherders, life was lonely. Perhaps no one knew that loneliness better than the Basques.

Basque Cultural Roots

The Basques are an ancient Indigenous group from the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain and France, and they have their own unique Uscara language and culture

In the mid-1800s, many young Basque men came to the American West during the gold rush. But they eventually found more reliable work as sheep herders.

It was this loneliness and a desire for connection that drove the Basque sheepherders to leave their mark on the trees, known as arbor glyphs.

Historic Tree Carvings

Using just a pocket knife, they began carving names, dates, and images into the trees, leaving dark scars you can sometimes still see today.

Some of the oldest carvings found in the park date to 1908, but many more were added later. Peruvian herders replaced the Basques in the 1960s.

But despite innocent intentions, each arbor glyph was actually a wound to the tree that created an opportunity for disease.

Great Basin National Park has tried to record every arborglyph they find before the aspens and the arborglyphs disappear forever.

As you explore these trails, keep your eyes peeled for messages in the forest. But please, do not add your own.

Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Great Basin National Park Tour!

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.

For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Great Basin National Park Itinerary and Know Before You Go article.