Summary
Visitors can enjoy activities such as hiking, fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing. The forest is home to numerous points of interest, including Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark, Shell Falls, and Cloud Peak Wilderness.
Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark is a prehistoric stone structure that is over 10,000 years old and is considered a sacred site. Shell Falls is a waterfall that drops over 120 feet and is a popular spot for photography. Cloud Peak Wilderness is a mountain range that spans over 189,000 acres and is a great place for hiking and backpacking.
The forest is also home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, elk, moose, and black bears. Visitors should be cautious and follow safety guidelines when encountering wildlife.
The best time to visit Bighorn National Forest is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the roads are open. However, visitors should be prepared for sudden changes in weather, as the area is prone to thunderstorms and snowstorms.
Overall, Bighorn National Forest is a beautiful and unique destination that offers a variety of outdoor activities and scenic views.
Weather Forecast
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.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Lower Doyle Creek Campground
|
||
Doyle Campground
|
||
Doyle
|
||
Lost Cabin Campground
|
||
Lost Cabin
|
||
Muddy Guard Cabin
|