Immerse yourself in the relaxing surroundings of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The canyon offers a diversified landscape of forest, mountains, upland prairie, deep canyons, broad valleys, high desert, lake and wetlands. Since the creation of the recreation area, people have been able to find tranquil settings to better explore recreation, nature, wildlife, and history.
The Basics
Hours:
Yellowtail Dam Visitor Center, Fort Smith, Montana Open: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Check locally for weekend hours in May and September. Closed the rest of the year.
Cal S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center, Lovell, Wyoming Open daily throughout the year. Memorial Day through Labor Day Hours: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. Labor Day through Memorial Day Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
Crooked Creek Ranger Station, near Horseshoe Bend turnoff: Hours may vary depending on staffing.
Afterbay Contact Station, Fort Smith, Montana: Hours may vary depending on staffing
North Entrance - Fort Smith, Montana Take Interstate 90 to Hardin, Montana. Turn on Highway 313, traveling 40 miles south to Fort Smith, Montana and the North entrance.
South entrance - near Lovell, Wyoming From 14A turn north on Highway 37, and continue 9 miles to South entrance.
Climate
The North end of Bighorn Canyon is semi-arid getting 18 to 20 inches of rain annully. The South end is in the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains and is a high desert with average rainfall from 6 to 10 inches annually.
Vehicle: $5.00/Day, $30.00/Annual Entrance fees into Bighorn Canyon are $5.00 per day.
Things To Do
There are many activities at Bighorn Canyon NRA- Auto Touring, Biking, Bird Watching, Boating, Camping, Cross Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Snowshoeing, Stargazing, Swimming, and Wildlife Viewing.
Outdoor Camping
Afterbay Campground Open All Year
Near Fort Smith, Montana, on the south shore of the Afterbay, the 28 RV and tent sites are located around a line of nice shade trees. Composting vault toilets, RV dump station, and drinking water are available. An additional 12 sites without water are available on the north shore of the Afterbay.
Black Canyon Campground Open All Year
This boat-in-only campground, five miles south of Ok-A- Beh boat ramp, is along the lake shore in Douglas fir/ponderosa pine forest. The 17 tent sites are sometimes visited by black bears. A floating, vault toilet is available, but no drinking water is available. Lake level affects the proximity of the boat moorings to campsites.
Horseshoe Bend Campground Open All Year
Uphill from the Horseshoe Bend Marina, boat docks, swim beach and picnic area and between the sagebrush and juniper woodland communities, the 59 campsites overlook the lake and the red sandstone cliffs of Sykes Mountain. The campground is 14 miles north of Lovell, Wyoming via WY Hwy 37. Modern restrooms, RV dump station and drinking water are available. Some sites have shade shelters.
Medicine Creek Campground Open All Year
Boat-in or hike-in only to get to the six sites on the lake shore in this side canyon. Vault toilet is available. No drinking water.
Trail Creek Campground Open All Year
This primitive campground 27 miles north of Lovell, Wyoming, via WY Hwy 37 and the park road has 15 sites, 5 are tent only, among the various deciduous trees that line the side canyon of Trail Creek. Two vault toilets are available, but there is no drinking water. Most of the sites are small.
Camping is free and on a first come first serve basis. No reservations will be taken.
Hiking the approximately 27 miles of trails (13 trails parkwide) within the park is a great way to experience Bighorn Canyon. With a gentle breeze on your face, a lone bird singing in the background, and the rocks shifting under foot, one realizes this is the time to reflect on the natural differences in the environment as well as time to reflect on our role in nature.
The 13 trails offer varying sights and tranquil settings to better explore the natural diversity the park has to offer. Some trails go through historic ranches while others take visitors to scenic vistas. The trail system is a wonderful way to extend your visit and make it truly unique.
Hiking guides may be purchased at the Yellowtail Dam Visitor Center, the Cal S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Visitor Center, the Afterbay Contact Station, or the Crooked Creek Contact Station.
Near Fort Smith, Montana, on the south shore of the Afterbay, the 28 RV and tent sites are located around a line of nice shade trees. Composting vault toilets, RV dump station, and drinking water are available. An additional 12 sites without water are available on the north shore of the Afterbay.
Black Canyon Campground Open All Year
This boat-in-only campground, five miles south of Ok-A- Beh boat ramp, is along the lake shore in Douglas fir/ponderosa pine forest. The 17 tent sites are sometimes visited by black bears. A floating, vault toilet is available, but no drinking water is available. Lake level affects the proximity of the boat moorings to campsites.
Horseshoe Bend Campground Open All Year
Uphill from the Horseshoe Bend Marina, boat docks, swim beach and picnic area and between the sagebrush and juniper woodland communities, the 59 campsites overlook the lake and the red sandstone cliffs of Sykes Mountain. The campground is 14 miles north of Lovell, Wyoming via WY Hwy 37. Modern restrooms, RV dump station and drinking water are available. Some sites have shade shelters.
Medicine Creek Campground Open All Year
Boat-in or hike-in only to get to the six sites on the lake shore in this side canyon. Vault toilet is available. No drinking water.
Trail Creek Campground Open All Year
This primitive campground 27 miles north of Lovell, Wyoming, via WY Hwy 37 and the park road has 15 sites, 5 are tent only, among the various deciduous trees that line the side canyon of Trail Creek. Two vault toilets are available, but there is no drinking water. Most of the sites are small.
Camping is free and on a first come first serve basis. No reservations will be taken.
