Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

 

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Hardly a hike for us, but well worth a recap, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area straddles the border between Wyoming and Montana. After making our way through Bighorn National Forest, we went out of our way to see Bighorn Canyon where the gulch winds around the huge parking lot with plenty of vistas from various fenced-in spots.

Established by congress in 1966 following the construction of the Yellowtail Dam and managed by the National Park Service, the park encompasses over 120,000 acres. The area includes forests, mountains, prairies, canyons, valleys, and deserts, creating a wide range of habitats. The area is home to diverse wildlife, including bighorn sheep, bears, and numerous bird species.

Bighorn Canyon is separated into two districts:

  • • North District
  • • South District

The North District is located near Fort Smith, Montana and is mostly water based recreation. Bighorn Lake, a large reservoir created by the construction of Yellowtail Dam, extends for many miles through the canyon, offering excellent boating and fishing opportunities.

The South District is located near Lovell, Wyoming and is largely land based recreation. The deep, dramatic canyon walls carved out by the Bighorn River provide breathtaking scenery. There are numerous hiking trails of varying difficulty levels giving visitors plenty of options.

Date of visit: August 5, 2024

 

A Beautiful Gulch

My husband and I visited the South District, entering through Wyoming. We were shocked when we pulled into the huge empty parking lot. Apparently, not enough Instagram influencers know about it yet and it’s still a well kept secret – I’m looking at you Horseshoe Bend.

 

There was a large fenced in perimeter around the parking lot with ample space for walking around and plenty of great views of the deep canyon and Bighorn River.

 

Even though the area was fenced-in, pictures could be taken over the fence without it marring the shot.

 

Can you see the Native American Indian chief image in the rock wall?

 

Zoomed in view…

 

Stories of the Area

Pryor Mountain Mustangs roam freely in the area and have so for over 100 years. It’s not clear where they originally came from, but genetic testing shows they’re linked to the Colonial Spanish horses and possibly escaped from American Indian herds, eventually finding a new home in the Pryor Mountains.

 

Bighorn Canyon is home to many birds of prey because of the an abundance of food and excellent nesting spots.

 

Bighorn sheep are native to the area and are the namesake of the canyon. They came to near extinction in the 1800’s due to hunting, but were reintroduced and the population has been managed to ensure their continued presence.

 

After being nearly wiped out in the mid-70’s, Peregrine Falcons are making their comeback. Thanks to the National Park Service and the Peregrine Fund, 28 captive raised falcons were released back into the park between 1989 and 1994.

 

Final Thoughts on Visiting Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Even though our stop at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area was short, we were glad that we went out of our way to visit. And even though we only viewed the Bighorn River and surrounding canyon from the parking lot, it was well worth our visit. It’s a very isolated area so I’m not sure how thrilled I’d be to hike very far away from the main road.

 

Questions
  • • Have you visited Bighorn Canyon? ~ This was our first visit.
  • • Have you visited Wyoming? Montana? ~ We’ve visit Wyoming many times, starting in 1981, but this was our first time in Montana.
  • • On hikes which do you prefer, barren desert scapes or lush forests? ~ both

 

I’m linking up with Zenaida of The Running Teacher and Jenn from Runs with Pugs for Tuesday topics Link-Up. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!