Fall Foliage in the Bighorn Mountains — A Sheridan Guide

September in the Bighorns

There's a two-week window every fall when the Bighorn Mountains transform. The aspens — millions of them, covering entire mountainsides — turn from green to gold in a wave that starts at the highest elevations and works its way down to the valleys over the course of September. The Bighorn Scenic Byway becomes one of the most spectacular drives in the American West, and almost nobody outside of Wyoming knows about it.

This isn't New England foliage tourism with leaf-peeper traffic jams and overpriced cider. This is Wyoming fall — quiet roads, empty trailheads, and the kind of golden light that makes every photograph look professionally shot. The aspens here grow in massive groves called clones, where every tree is genetically identical and changes color simultaneously. The effect is walls of gold stretching for miles against dark spruce forests and grey limestone cliffs.

The Best Fall Drives

Bighorn Scenic Byway (US-14): The crown jewel. Start in Dayton (20 minutes south of Sheridan) and drive west on US-14. The road climbs through Tongue River Canyon — cottonwoods first, then aspens begin appearing at 6,500 feet. By Burgess Junction at 8,600 feet, you're surrounded by gold on every side. Allow 2–3 hours with photo stops.

Red Grade Road: A gravel road south of Sheridan that climbs into the Bighorn foothills. Less dramatic than the Byway but closer and less trafficked. Good for sunset drives — the aspens catch western light beautifully in late afternoon.

US-14A (Medicine Wheel Passage): The steeper, more dramatic route over the northern Bighorns. Switchbacks with views of the Bighorn Basin. Fall color here is earlier and at higher elevation — plan for late September.

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There's a two-week window every fall when the Bighorn Mountains look like someone spilled gold paint across the entire range. The aspens turn in waves — high to low, north to south — and if you time it right, the drive up US-14 is the most beautiful road in America.

Best Fall Hikes

Tongue River Canyon: The cottonwoods along the river turn golden in early October, and the canyon walls amplify the color. The trail is less crowded in fall than summer — September and early October are the best hiking months in this canyon.

Rapid Creek Trail: An 8-mile loop near Sibley Lake that passes through some of the densest aspen groves in the Bighorns. Peak color here is typically the last week of September.

Little Bighorn Trail: A less-known route off US-14 that follows a creek through aspen corridors. Moderate difficulty, 6 miles roundtrip. Best in the final week of September when the aspens are fully turned.

Beyond the Leaves — What Else September Offers

Fall in Sheridan isn't just about foliage. September brings Born in a Barn (September 18–19), the county's signature artisan market. Hunting season opens, filling the town with a different energy. The restaurants are at their best — seasonal menus featuring game, root vegetables, and harvest ingredients. And the weather is perfect: highs in the 60s and 70s, cool nights, and the kind of crystal-clear air that makes distant mountains look close enough to touch.

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September is Sheridan's best-kept secret. Summer crowds are gone. The aspens are gold. The air is crystalline. The restaurants have their fall menus. And the Bighorn Scenic Byway becomes the most beautiful road you've never heard of.

Where to Stay

For fall color viewing, downtown Sheridan gives you the best combination of Bighorn access and dining. The Pearl is walkable to everything in town and 30 minutes from the best color on the Byway. For mountain immersion, Story and Dayton properties put you right at the base of the aspens.