The tipi was used for shelter and sleeping. Most daily activities occurred outside the structure. A hearth in the center of the tipi was used for heat and cooking in poor weather.

In prehorse times, tipis averaged approximately 12 feet in diameter, and poles used in their construction were up to 15 feet long. Eight to 12 buffalo hides were needed for the construction of a tipi. The hides of buffalo killed during the summer were preferred because they were thinner and lighter in weight. A smudge fire was built inside a new tipi, and the smoke was allowed to permeated the leather. This process waterproofed the leather and aided in its preservation.

It has been estimated that there are over 1 million tipi rings in the western United States. As such, they are one of the most common archaeological features to be found in this part of the country. The features at this rest area have been preserved by the Wyoming Highway Department and the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist for your benefit. Please feel free to inspect the tipi rings up close, but do not disturb the rocks.