Bighorn National Forest

Located in north-central Wyoming, the Big Horn Mountains are a sister range of the Rocky Mountains. Conveniently located half-way between Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park, the Big Horns are a great vacation destination in themselves. No region in Wyoming is provided with a more diverse landscape -- from lush grasslands to alpine meadows, from crystal-clear lakes to glacial carved valleys, from rolling hills to sheer mountain walls.

No region in Wyoming is provided with a more diverse landscape than the Big Horn Mountains; from lush grasslands to alpine meadows, and rugged mountaintops to canyonlands and desert.

GORGEOUS CANYON COUNTRY is a hallmark of the Forest. These canyons were formed by thrust faults on both the east and west flanks and millions of years of erosion. Shell, Tensleep and Crazy Woman Canyons are among those that can be enjoyed from your car window. Others, like Tongue and Devil's Canyon are better viewed on foot.

One of the many treasures is an abundance of large MOUNTAIN MEADOWS. These natural openings, caused by soil type and moisture levels, favor grasses and wildflowers rather than trees. Imagine acre upon acre of yellows, blues, purples, pinks and reds splashed upon the landscape in changing patterns and hues.

Interspersed with mountain meadows are large patches of cool EVERGREEN FOREST extending from just above the foothills to the timber line. Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir populate the lower slopes with lodgepole pine, subalpine fir and Englemann spruce at the higher elevations.

Open landscapes make for great WILDLIFE VIEWING as well. Watch for moose munching on a tasty bite of willow streamside or a family of mule deer bounding away, then stopping to look back with large ears raised and listening.

HISTORY BUFFS come to this region to explore the land that once felt the footsteps of legendary giants like Jim Bridger, Lewis and Clark, Red Cloud, Plenty Coups and Buffalo Bill. This area was highly valued by tribes like the Crow, Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe. Some of the most famous battles between the Native American Indians and the US military were waged at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains or in close proximity.

Forest Facts:

The Bighorn National Forest is 80 miles long and 30 miles wide.
The Forest covers 1,115,073 acres.
Elevations range from 5,500 feet to a high of 13,175 feet at Cloud Peak.
Black Tooth Mountain stands at 13,005 feet.
The most common tree is lodgepole pine.
The Forest has 32 campgrounds, 14 picnic areas, 2 visitor centers, 2 ski areas 7 lodges, 2 recreation lakes, 3 Scenic Byways, and over 1,500 miles (2419 Km) of trails.
The Bighorn River, flowing along the west side of the Forest, was first named by American Indians due to the great herds of bighorn sheep at its mouth. Lewis and Clark transferred the name to the mountain range in the early 1800s.
The Forest and river are referred to as "Bighorn" (single word), while the mountain range itself is referred to as the "Big Horns".

Experience this special place with an America Outdoors outfitter who provide dude ranch lodging, scenic floats, fishing trips, pack trips, hunting and horseback riding in the beautiful Bighorn National Forest!