Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

State: Montana (extends into Wyoming). Type: National Park Service recreation area straddling Big Horn/Carbon counties, Montana and Big Horn County, Wyoming. Established October 15, 1966, following construction of Yellowtail Dam. Size: about 120,296 acres, roughly one-third within the Crow Indian Reservation. Fee program suspended since May 2018 (no daily entrance pass required as of research).

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is a two-part park split by the Wyoming-Montana border, built around 71-mile Bighorn Lake, which was formed when the Bureau of Reclamation completed Yellowtail Dam. The North District, near Fort Smith, Montana, is oriented around water-based recreation on the lake, while the South District, near Lovell, Wyoming, is roughly three hours away by road and focuses on land-based sightseeing and hiking through dramatic canyon and high-desert terrain. The park sits partly on the Crow Indian Reservation, and its Crow heritage runs deep: Crow leader Robert Yellowtail negotiated the land purchase for the dam project with the federal government in the 1950s, and the dam bears his name. Beyond the water, the park protects the free-roaming Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range and several historic ranches open for self-guided tours, giving visitors a mix of boating, hiking, wildlife viewing and frontier history in one remote, lightly visited unit of the National Park System.

The recreation area straddles the Montana-Wyoming border. Its North District is accessed via Fort Smith, Montana, while its South District centers on the Cal Taggart Visitor Center at 20 US Hwy 14A, Lovell, Wyoming. The two districts are not connected by a through road and require about three hours of driving to travel between them. The park sits roughly 60-90 miles from Billings, Montana, the nearest major city.

The North District has a semi-arid climate with about 18 inches of annual rainfall, while the South District is classified as high desert, receiving only 6-10 inches of precipitation a year. Summers are hot and dry, and winters can bring cold temperatures and snow, particularly at higher elevations near the canyon rim.

Late spring through early fall (roughly May through September) is the main visitation window, when marinas are open (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and hiking trails are most accessible. Summer heat can be intense in the high-desert South District, so spring and fall offer more comfortable hiking conditions, while boating is naturally concentrated in the warmer months.

The Crow (Apsáalooke) people have inhabited this region since at least the 16th century. In the 1950s, the federal government sought Crow tribal land for a dam project on the Bighorn River; Crow leader Robert Yellowtail negotiated a substantially better deal than initially offered, securing $5 million for roughly 12,000 acres rather than the original $1.5 million offer for 7,000 acres. The resulting Yellowtail Dam, completed by the Bureau of Reclamation, created Bighorn Lake, and the recreation area was established on October 15, 1966, to manage the surrounding land for public use. About one-third of the park remains within the Crow Indian Reservation today.

Boating, fishing for trout, walleye and smallmouth bass, kayaking and water skiing are the main activities on Bighorn Lake in the North District. The South District offers roughly 12 of the park's 15 hiking trails through canyon and desert terrain, along with wildlife viewing for the free-roaming horses of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. Four historic ranches are open for self-guided tours, and Bighorn Cavern offers caving opportunities. The park's remote setting and minimal light pollution also make it a good spot for night-sky viewing.

Bighorn Lake itself, with 191 miles of shoreline and 12,700 surface acres of water, is the park's centerpiece. The Cal Taggart Visitor Center in Lovell, Wyoming anchors the South District. The Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range protects a free-roaming wild horse herd. Bighorn Cavern and several historic ranch sites offer additional stops for visitors touring the South District.

Billings, Montana is the nearest major city with commercial air service and is the typical gateway for the North District near Fort Smith. The South District is reached via US Highway 14A to the Cal Taggart Visitor Center in Lovell, Wyoming. A personal vehicle is necessary, since the two districts are not linked by a direct through road and require a roughly three-hour drive between them via surrounding highways.

The Cal Taggart Visitor Center in Lovell, Wyoming operates year-round, per NPS visitor information. Marinas in the North District operate seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Confirm current visitor center hours and seasonal facility schedules on the park's official NPS website before visiting.

As of research, the park's entrance fee program was suspended in May 2018, so no daily entrance pass is currently required. Campground fees still apply at select sites, some managed through a concessioner (HiddenTreasure Charters). Confirm current fee status on nps.gov/bica before visiting, since NPS fee policies can change.

A half to full day suits a visit to a single district; because the North and South Districts are roughly three hours apart with no connecting road, seeing both in one trip generally requires an overnight stay or a multi-day visit.

Fort Smith, Montana serves as the small gateway community for the North District, while Lovell, Wyoming serves the South District; both are small towns with limited lodging. The park itself offers camping at three campgrounds with both utility and non-utility sites. Billings, Montana, the nearest larger city, offers a fuller range of hotel chains for visitors who prefer to stay outside the park.

Dining options are limited within the immediate park area, concentrated in the small towns of Fort Smith and Lovell near each district's entrance. Visitors seeking a wider range of restaurants typically head to Billings, Montana, the nearest larger city, or Cody, Wyoming, on the Wyoming side.

The Pryor Mountains, home to the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, border the South District. Billings, Montana and Cody, Wyoming are the nearest larger towns for additional attractions. Yellowtail Dam itself, near the North District, offers views of the structure that created Bighorn Lake.

Billings Logan International Airport in Billings, Montana is the nearest airport with regular commercial service, from which a rental car is needed to reach either district. There is no public transit serving the park directly, so a personal or rental vehicle is essential.

Because the park is remote with limited cell service in places, carry a paper map or download offline maps before arriving, and let someone know your itinerary if hiking in the South District's high-desert terrain. Water-based visitors should check lake conditions and wear life jackets while boating. High-desert heat in summer calls for extra water and sun protection on South District trails. For any emergency, dial 911.

Sufficient water and sun protection are essential for hiking the exposed, high-desert South District trails. Boaters on Bighorn Lake should bring life jackets and sun protection for time on the water. A full tank of gas and a paper map are worth having given the park's remoteness and the long drive between its two districts.

Plan which district (North or South) fits your itinerary before arriving, since the roughly three-hour drive between them via public roads means most visitors focus on one side per trip. Fill up on gas before entering, since fuel and services are limited near both districts. Checking current marina and campground seasonal schedules on the official NPS site ahead of time helps avoid disappointment, especially for boating trips.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For visitor information, the Cal Taggart Visitor Center in Lovell, Wyoming can be reached at 307-548-5406, per NPS visitor information.

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (National Park Service) - https://www.nps.gov/bica/index.htm

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.