Tornado Observation site sits along the Bighorn Scenic Byway.  Stop and see the spectacular valley views.

Nature’s Destruction

In June 1959, a tornado roared over the south rim of the canyon directly before you. Its path was along Granite Creek to your left and through what is used to be Granite Creek Campground.  One person was killed.  The twister ripped up timber and laid it out in the patter you see now. 

While tornadoes usually occur on the plains, several have visited the Bighorn Mountains.  Blowing down mountain timber at 10,000 feet above sea level, these tornadoes are among the highest on record.  The Forest Service salvaged part of the downed timber, but the steepness made it difficult to retrieve trees from the upper slopes. A road at the bottom of the blowdown area enabled some clearing and reseeding.  Most of the scar has revegetated naturally.