Boars Tusk |

Red Desert

Roadside Attraction Boars Tusk - Red Desert Roadside Attraction Boars Tusk

Red Desert

Overview

RATING: Roadside Attraction
LENGTH: 1 hours

Fri

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. West wind 2 to 8 mph.

41 | 22

Sat

Snow showers before 3pm, then rain showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 45. South southwest wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

45 | 30

Sun

Snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. South wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

47 | 29

Mon

A slight chance of snow showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

42 | 24

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 50.

50 | 23

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SEASON: Any, although summers can be hot. Roads can be difficult to pass in the winter or when wet.

Fri

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. West wind 2 to 8 mph.

41 | 22

Sat

Snow showers before 3pm, then rain showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 45. South southwest wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

45 | 30

Sun

Snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. South wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

47 | 29

Mon

A slight chance of snow showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

42 | 24

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 50.

50 | 23

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The Boars Tusk on the Killpecker Creek Plain.

The Boars Tusk on the Killpecker Creek Plain.

The Boars Tusk is a prominent landmark for those traveling through the northern section of the Red Desert. The feature is what remains of an old volcano and rises about 400' above the surrounding Killpecker Creek Plain and dunes desert that surrounds it. The volcano has been dated to about 2.5 million years ago. The millennia have slowly worn down the Boars Tusk to its current size. It is composed of a brittle rock, Lamproite, that is a fairly uncommon volcanic rock.

Being prominent in the landscape gave it significance both today and in more ancient times. Modern hikers and travelers use it as a reference point when exploring that area of the red desert, as surely ancient people did. The Red Desert was home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, who's cultures had lore around the Boars Tusk. In Northern Arapaho, the Boars Tusk is called The Parents because of how it resembles two people from certain perspectives.

Note: Until recently, the feature was also occasionally climbed by rock climbers at a moderate grade to take in the views of the surround plains from a lofty perch. The BLM has closed the route due to its geological and cultural significance, as well as concerns about damage that was occurring to the feature from climbing. Please respect the closure and do not climb on the Boars Tusk.
One of the locals near the Boars Tusk. We saw a lot of antelope on our visit.

One of the locals near the Boars Tusk. We saw a lot of antelope on our visit.

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