In 2017, it was estimated that more than 4 million people visited Yellowstone in a single year. Thus, the fame of this national park has helped dim that of many other beautiful areas that can be described as true hidden gems. The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is one of them, and if you are planning a Great American West itinerary, I would suggest you consider it to admire the beautiful views it offers. Let’s find out what to do and how to plan a visit.
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Where is Bighorn Canyon and how to get there
The park is actually divided into two separate sections (or districts) that are not directly connected to each other.
- North District near Fort Smith in Montana
- South District near Lovell in Wyoming
In the event you want to visit both, you’ll have to allow for at least a three-hour drive between the two.
The park is open all year round. Only some structures inside such as the Visitor Center close on some days, following specific schedules. You can enter the park free of charge.
Warning: Do not confuse the Bighorn Canyon with the nearby Bighorn National Forest!
Things to do at Bighorn Canyon
For your convenience, we have separated the two sections of the park, highlighting the best things they have to offer.
North District
This is the area that is located near the town of Fort Smith in the state of Montana. If you feel that a visit to the national park is not complete without entering the visitor’s center, you should go to the Yellowtail Dam Visitor Center, where you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the canyon and the dam. If you’re wondering if tours can be taken on top of the construction itself, unfortunately the answer is no for reasons of national security.
If you want to take a walk in the northern section, you can choose from three trails, all concentrated in the area near the dam.
- Beaver Pond Nature Trail
- Bighorn Head Gate
- Three Mile Access
One of the activities that can be done in this area is water-related, the possibility of taking a boat or canoe tour. The best place to embark on this type of adventure is definitely the Ok-A-Beh Marina. You can only access the facilities in this area in a certain season, from Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) until Labor Day (the first Monday in September).
South District
The South District is north of the small town of Lovell, Wyoming, but also extends across the border into the state of Montana. The flagship visitor center for this area is the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center.
If you want to take a boat trip, or take a closer look at Bighorn Lake, you can go to the Horseshoe Bend Marina, which has the same opening period as the North District’s Ok-A-Beh Marina.
Do you want to take the perfect souvenir photo? Then you will have to go to the most famous viewpoint: the Devil’s Canyon Overlook, one of the best places to enjoy the incredible view of the canyon below. The additional advantage is that you can reach it comfortably by car. If you are planning an itinerary that includes a stop in the picturesque town of Cody in Wyoming, it will take about an hour and 20 minutes to reach the overlook.
Unlike the Northern District, if you’re in the mood for a hike here, you have a choice of 12 trails that cater to just about every need. Most of them are located along the course of Highway 37 and go all the way to the edge of the Canyon.
One of the most popular is Sullivan’s Knob Trail: the trailhead is located just north of Devil’s Canyon Overlook. Along the way, you will find a small parking area that marks the beginning of the trail. It is recommended for those who want to take a short hike since it’s a round trip of just over a mile and three hundred yards. Once you get to the edge of the canyon you can also experience the echo effect.
Historic Ranches
There are four historic ranches inside the park that dates back to the early 1900s. You can use the walking trails to get there on your own, or, during the summer months, take advantage of free guided tours that rangers organize, choosing a different ranch each week
- Caroline Lockhart Ranch: this is perhaps the best-known ranch because it belonged to the famous journalist Caroline Lockhart. Today it is a true green oasis away from civilization. Today most of the buildings still maintain their original appearance.
- Mason-Lovell Ranch: during its peak period of activity, it is said that this ranch managed more than 12,000 heads of cattle that were allowed to graze freely on this land that continues beyond the horizon.
- Cedarvale Dude Ranch: is located within the Ghost Town of Hillsboro, which had its heyday in the early 1900s when many gold-seekers settled in the area hoping to find their fortune. Once the chance to get rich vanished, this area continued to be quite successful as a place to welcome tourists visiting the Bighorn River area.
- Ewing-Snell Ranch: this ranch was founded in 1896 by Erastus T. Ewing, a gold prospector who settled in the region to find the precious mineral. Despite some initial progress, however, not enough was discovered to justify the continuation of the adventure. He decided to dedicate himself exclusively to agriculture. The buildings still standing are: an old barn, a small school and the big main house (which was destroyed in a fire in 2015).
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
This national monument is not located within the park but about an hour and a quarter drive from the small town of Fort Smith in Montana (and thus the North District). I still wanted to point it out (apart from the reason of its name) because it is still one of the most important historical sites nearby.
On this great prairie, in fact, one of the battles that entered the collective imagination of America and the world was fought. We are talking about the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876, when the Lakota, Arapaho, Cheyenne and Dakota Indian tribes defeated the American troops of the 7th Cavalry led by General Custer.
Today you can visit the Custer National Cemetery and the Seventh Cavalry Memorial, located on top of the hill where the last defenses of the American army took place. A white plaque with black lettering marks the spot where Custer’s lifeless body was found.
Where to stay near Bighorn Canyon
Unfortunately, except for some campsites, it is not possible to sleep inside the park. Even in the area near the Bighorn Canyon, the accommodations are not abundant. For this reason, our advice for those who want to stay as close as possible to the park is to stay in Lovell, or opt for the town of Cody if you prefer a solution halfway between the Canyon and Yellowstone.