Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is a beautiful destination located in the state of Wyoming that spans over 120,000 acres and offers spectacular views of towering cliffs and a stunning blue lake.
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Summary
The area is known for its abundant wildlife and diverse landscape, making it an ideal spot for camping, hiking, fishing, and boating. Some of the highlights of the area include the Bighorn Canyon Dam, the Devil Canyon Overlook, and the Yellowtail Dam, which provide breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can also explore the many hiking trails, including the Rimrock Trail and the Bad Pass Trail, which offer stunning views of the canyon and its surroundings. Interesting facts about the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area include that it is home to over 1,000 archaeological sites and has one of the largest populations of wild horses in the United States. The best time to visit the area is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the wildlife is most active, although visitors can also enjoy the area during the spring and fall seasons when the crowds are smaller and the scenery is equally stunning.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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