Things to do in The Bighorn Mountains

The Bighorns are the whole point: waterfall hikes like Porcupine and Bucking Mule Falls, the climb up Steamboat Point, the drive down Shell Canyon, skiing at community-run Antelope Butte, and the ancient Medicine Wheel at 9,600 feet. Every mountain stop we trust, with honest difficulty notes, is below.

Every The Bighorn Mountains place we recommend

• Black Mountain LookoutHiking & Biking

  Climb to a staffed fire lookout with 360° views across the whole range. A real hike with a real payoff — bring water and a windbreaker.

• Steamboat PointHiking & Biking

  The prow-shaped rock you'll photograph from the byway — then climb for 360° views. Steep but short-ish; 11 miles up US-14 from the visitor center.

• Paradise FallsHiking & Biking

  A quieter Bighorn waterfall that rewards the drive up. Great turnaround point for a scenic-byway day.

• Bucking Mule FallsHiking & Biking

  Out on the west side of the range off US-14A, an out-and-back trail to an overlook where a tall waterfall drops into Devil Canyon. It's a long drive from Sheridan, so make a full day of it and pack lunch.

• Porcupine FallsHiking & Biking

  Short but steep down to a stunning 200-ft falls and a pool at the bottom. The descent is the easy part — save some legs for the climb out.

• Cloud Peak Wilderness (West Tensleep access)Hiking & Biking

  Serious backcountry beneath 13,167-ft Cloud Peak, the highest point in the Bighorns. For experienced hikers and backpackers — this is the big one. Mid-July to early September only.

• Cloud Peak Skyway (US-16)Scenic Drives & Falls

  The southern crossing over the Bighorns — sweeping Cloud Peak views, alpine lakes, and the drop into Ten Sleep Canyon on the far side. Half-day loop with the Scenic Byway. Watch for snow into June.

• Fallen City OverlookScenic Drives & Falls

  A tumble of massive limestone blocks that looks like a ruined city. Two-minute stop, great photo, kids love scrambling the pull-off.

• Shell Falls Interpretive SiteScenic Drives & Falls

  Closed for Forest Service construction through 2026, and parking on the highway near the falls is not allowed. When it reopens: 120 feet of water thundering through Shell Canyon, with a short interpretive trail and visitor center.

• Medicine Wheel / Medicine Mountain National Historic LandmarkScenic Drives & Falls

  An ancient stone wheel at ~9,600 ft, sacred to Plains tribes for centuries, with views that go forever. A 1.5-mile walk in from the lot. Remote, moving, unforgettable — a full commitment on the west side of the range.

• Antelope Butte Mountain Recreation AreaRecreation & Play

  Community-run ski hill up US-14 — real turns without the resort circus in winter, lift-served hiking and events in summer. The local secret that makes a Sheridan winter worth it.

• Arrowhead LodgeFood

  6002 US-14, Dayton, WY 82836

  A small lodge in a mountain valley near the Tongue River with a full restaurant and bar. It has a name for its burgers, plus cabins, a gift shop and fuel on site.

• Bear Lodge ResortFood

  5600 US Hwy 14A, Burgess Junction, Dayton, WY 82836

  Right at Burgess Junction, with a restaurant and bar for all three meals and a name for its pies. In winter it is a base for snowmobile rentals and trail access.

• Elk View Inn & Fox's Den Bar & GrillFood

  4622 W. US Hwy 14, Dayton, WY

  A family-run mountaintop inn with Fox's Den Bar & Grill, which calls itself the biggest bar and restaurant on the mountain. Winter brings snowmobiles, summer brings UTVs and fishing.

• Camp 6 - Bruce Creek Interpretive SiteCulture & History

  The old Camp Six of the Big Horn Timber Company, with a log cabin built around 1906 and the burned remains of other camp buildings. Please leave every structure and artifact where it lies.

• Duncom Mountain Burn Observation SiteCulture & History

  Marks a 1969 wildfire that burned about 120 acres and the replanting that followed. A quiet stop off 14A if you like seeing how a forest recovers.

• Entrance Portal Interpretive SiteScenic Drives & Falls

  The first roadside stop as you enter the forest on US-14 west of Dayton. A road cut across the way shows rock layers pushed up and folded back down.

• Hogback Interpretive SiteScenic Drives & Falls

  A pullout a few miles up US-14 from Dayton where signs explain the long red ridges called hogbacks and how the Bighorns were lifted.

• Crystal Creek OverlookScenic Drives & Falls

  Roadside view over the Bighorn Basin on US-14A, with signs on how the basin formed. No fee and no camping.

• Beaver Creek OverlookScenic Drives & Falls

  Roadside pullout on US-14A explaining how sheep and cattle graze the forest in summer. Keep your eyes peeled for the herds.

• Bald Mountain OverlookScenic Drives & Falls

  Granite boulders about a billion years old and a bit of 1890s gold rush history, on the Medicine Wheel Passage. The rush faded by 1900.

• Crystal Creek Snowplay AreaRecreation & Play

  A summer rest stop that turns into a snowmobile trailhead in winter, with vault toilets on site. No camping and no fee.

• Antelope Butte Nordic Ski AreaRecreation & Play

  About five miles of packed cross-country trails through lodgepole pine and open parks. Gear can be rented at the Antelope Butte rental shop, and the season is usually December through April.

• South Fork Lodge Restaurant & BarFood

  7558 Hwy 16 W, Buffalo, WY 82834

  Mountain lodge restaurant on US-16 west of Buffalo with big breakfast, lunch and dinner portions and homemade pie. A natural stop on the way up.

• Hospital Hill Interpretive SiteScenic Drives & Falls

  A pull-off on US-16 with mountain views and interpretive signs, handy for naming the peaks you can see. Roughly 19 miles west of downtown.

• Loaf Mountain OverlookScenic Drives & Falls

  Overlook west of Buffalo on the Cloud Peak Skyway with a view of the taller Bighorn peaks. A quick photo stop.

• Pole Creek Nordic Ski TrailHiking & Biking

  About 11 miles of marked trails along Highway 16, with a shortest loop of 3.1 miles. Good for easy-to-moderate cross-country skiing.

• Hazelton PyramidHiking & Biking

  A 6.4-mile round trip off Forest Road 29 from Highway 16, climbing about 1,670 feet to a 10,534-foot summit. Moderate to hard, and worth it for the view.

• Willow Park Nordic Ski TrailsHiking & Biking

  About 13 miles of marked loops up US-16, kept up by the Powder Pass Nordic Club. Tougher terrain, so best for intermediate and up. No pets allowed here.

• Seven Brothers Lakes Trail (#045)Hiking & Biking

  A 5.5-mile trail from Hunter Campground into Cloud Peak Wilderness, ending at Seven Brothers Lake. Wilderness rules apply and camping at the lake is limited.

• Sherd Lake Loop Trail (#046)Hiking & Biking

  A 7.8-mile route out of Circle Park Trailhead to Sherd Lake and the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Return by the South Fork Ponds Trail to make a loop.

• Tie Hack Picnic GroundLakes & Fishing

  Day-use picnic spot at the north end of Tie Hack Reservoir, a short way off US-16. Bring a canoe or rod; only electric motors are allowed.

• Tensleep Canyon Interpretive SiteScenic Drives & Falls

  A pullout on the Cloud Peak Skyway with signs on how the canyon and its limestone cliffs formed. In winter you can see ice flows on the canyon walls.

• Lost Twin Lakes Trail (#065)Hiking & Biking

  A 6.6-mile trail that follows Middle Tensleep Creek north into Cloud Peak Wilderness and ends at Lost Twin Lakes. It starts at Highline Trail just south of the West Tensleep trailhead.

• Cliff Lake Trail (#060)Hiking & Biking

  About 4 miles through Cloud Peak Wilderness past high lakes and meadows, along North Paint Rock Creek.

• Paintrock Lake TrailheadHiking & Biking

  Trailhead at 9,200 feet reached from US-14 and FSR 17, with the North High Park Trail heading into Cloud Peak Wilderness. Parking is limited and there's no camping at the trailhead.

• West Tensleep TrailheadHiking & Biking

  One of the busiest trailheads on the forest, with a big lot, vault toilets and water. Lost Twin Lakes and Misty Moon trails start here.

• James T. Saban LookoutScenic Drives & Falls

  A Civilian Conservation Corps fire lookout, one of three still standing in the range, named for a firefighter who died in 1937. Staffed only in the worst fire seasons; follow FSR 429 off US-16.

• Lily Lake TrailheadHiking & Biking

  Small, no-frills trailhead at 9,200 feet leading to Lily Lake and the Middle Paintrock Trail. Limited parking and no camping at the lot.

• Coney Creek TrailheadHiking & Biking

  The jump-off for Coney Creek Trail into Cloud Peak Wilderness and Coney Lake, reached from Sheridan by way of WY 335 and FSR 26. Vault toilets on site.

• Edelman TrailheadHiking & Biking

  Trailhead at 9,200 feet with room for horse trailers and a vault toilet. Edelman Trail enters the wilderness about half a mile in.

• Lake Point Picnic GroundLakes & Fishing

  A quiet picnic spot above Meadowlark Lake. Short, steep paths drop down to the water for fishing.

• Cutler Hill Nordic Ski Trail (#552)Hiking & Biking

  About 3 miles of packed Nordic trail near Sibley, with parking on the north side of US-14. Dogs are welcome here, unlike at neighboring Sibley.

• Sibley LakeLakes & Fishing

  Easy-access mountain lake right off US-14 with a campground, trout fishing, and non-motor boating — the family-friendly Bighorn lake day.

• Meadowlark LakeLakes & Fishing

  The showpiece lake of the Cloud Peak Skyway (US-16) — fishing, kayaking, and a lodge, ringed by peaks. Worth the drive over the mountain.

• West Tensleep LakeLakes & Fishing

  Trailhead lake into the Cloud Peak Wilderness and a serene, non-motorized fishery. The launch point for Lake Solitude and Mistymoon.

• Park Reservoir (Big Goose)Lakes & Fishing

  A high backcountry reservoir up the Big Goose road — rougher access, quieter water, real cutthroat. For anglers who like to earn it.

• Lake SolitudeLakes & Fishing

  A jewel alpine lake deep in the Cloud Peak Wilderness — a backpacking payoff beneath the high peaks. For those willing to walk in.

• Mistymoon LakeLakes & Fishing

  The classic basecamp lake for climbing Cloud Peak — an alpine amphitheater of granite and water. Serious backcountry, unforgettable.

• Five Springs FallsScenic Drives & Falls

  A tumbling falls and campground on the US-14A switchbacks up the west face — a short walk to a big reward on the Medicine Wheel route.

• Powder River PassScenic Drives & Falls

  The 9,666-ft summit of the Cloud Peak Skyway (US-16) — the highest point on the drive, with Cloud Peak filling the windshield. Pull over.

• Granite PassScenic Drives & Falls

  The high junction where US-14 and US-14A split near Burgess — big meadows, grazing cattle, and the roof of the northern Bighorns.

• Burgess Junction Visitor CenterScenic Drives & Falls

  The forest hub near the top of US-14 — maps, restrooms, interpretive exhibits, and the last reliable info before the high country. Start here.

• Elk View OverlookScenic Drives & Falls

  A sweeping roadside overlook and picnic pull-off on US-14 — an easy leg-stretch with a view that goes for miles.

• Devil Canyon Overlook (Bighorn Canyon)Scenic Drives & Falls

  A dizzying 1,000-ft drop to the turquoise water of Bighorn Canyon on the west side — pair it with the Pryor Mountain wild horses and the Medicine Wheel for an epic loop.

• Prune Creek CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Shady creekside campground on US-14 near Sibley Lake — easy trout fishing out the tent door. A reliable Bighorn basecamp.

• North Tongue CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Meadowy campground on the blue-ribbon North Tongue — one of the best small-stream fly-fishing spots in the range.

• Tie Flume CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Named for the log flumes that floated railroad ties off the mountain — a quiet, historic campground in the pines off US-14.

• Dead Swede CampgroundRecreation & Play

  The namesake of Sheridan's famous Dead Swede gravel race — a pretty forest campground and creek off US-14.

• Owen Creek CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Small, quiet, high campground off US-14 — the one you pick when you want the mountain to yourself.

• Cabin Creek Trailhead & CampgroundHiking & Biking

  A trail-and-camp hub off US-14 near the Tongue country — access to the high meadows without a huge drive.

• Sitting Bull CampgroundRecreation & Play

  The big, family-friendly campground near Meadowlark Lake on US-16 — the base for a Cloud Peak Skyway weekend.

• Bald Mountain CampgroundRecreation & Play

  High, open campground on the US-14A shoulder near the Medicine Wheel — huge skies and some of the darkest stars in Wyoming.

• Porcupine CampgroundRecreation & Play

  The base for Porcupine Falls and the Medicine Wheel on the wild west side of the range — remote, beautiful, worth the drive.

• Elgin Park TrailheadHiking & Biking

  A deep-in Cloud Peak trailhead for the ambitious — long approaches to some of the quietest alpine lakes in the range.

• Coffeen Park TrailheadHiking & Biking

  Remote west-slope trailhead into wild Cloud Peak country — high meadows, cutthroat lakes, and solitude.

• Sheep Mountain Fire LookoutHiking & Biking

  A historic staffed lookout with a 360° sweep of the northern Bighorns — a rewarding climb and a chat with the lookout on top.

• Medicine Wheel Passage (US-14A)Scenic Drives & Falls

  The dramatic western byway up to the Medicine Wheel — steep grades, huge views, and the wildest crossing of the range. Summer only.

• Ten Sleep Canyon OverlookScenic Drives & Falls

  The stunning red-and-grey canyon dropping off the west end of US-16 into Ten Sleep — world-class climbing walls and a jaw-drop drive.

• Willow Park ReservoirLakes & Fishing

  Quiet trout reservoir tucked off US-16 — a pretty, less-trafficked alternative to Meadowlark.

• Ranger Creek CampgroundRecreation & Play

  A pleasant creekside campground in the Tongue district — a simple, well-placed Bighorn overnight.

• Boulder Park (US-16)Scenic Drives & Falls

  The historic lodge-and-store near Meadowlark — a warm meal, a cabin, and snowmobile access in winter. A mountain institution on US-16.

• Cross Creek / Battle Park (Bighorns)Hiking & Biking

  A quiet west-slope access to Cloud Peak meadows and streams — the country you have to want to reach.

• Sawmill Lakes / Coney LakeLakes & Fishing

  A cluster of alpine lakes on the Cloud Peak approach — golden trout, granite, and the kind of quiet you drove all this way for.

• Shell Creek & Shell ReservoirLakes & Fishing

  High reservoir and creek fishing off the US-14 west descent toward Shell Falls — cutthroat, camps, and canyon scenery.

• Twin Lakes (Bighorns)Lakes & Fishing

  A pair of pretty alpine lakes on the Cloud Peak approaches — a worthy day-hike destination with a rod in the pack.

• Lakeview Campground (Meadowlark)Recreation & Play

  Camp right above Meadowlark Lake on US-16 — wake up to the water and the peaks. The prime Cloud Peak Skyway overnight.

• Island Park Campground (US-16)Recreation & Play

  A pretty forest campground on the west end of US-16 near Ten Sleep Canyon — good base for climbers and anglers.

• Shell Campground & Ranger Station (US-14)Recreation & Play

  The camp-and-ranger hub near Shell Falls on the west descent of US-14 — canyon walls, cold creek, and the falls a short drive up.

• Cloud Peak ReservoirLakes & Fishing

  A high reservoir under the Cloud Peak massif — cutthroat, quiet, and about as scenic as a cast gets.

• Florence LakeLakes & Fishing

  A backcountry alpine lake on the way to Mistymoon — worth the walk for the trout and the silence.

• Sibley Lake Nordic & Winter RecRecreation & Play

  Groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails around Sibley in winter — the quiet, cheap alternative to a lift ticket. Bring your own gear.

• Bighorn Snowmobile Trail SystemRecreation & Play

  Hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails across the top of the Bighorns out of Burgess Junction — a huge, uncrowded winter playground.

• Alkali Creek Wilderness Study AreaCulture & History

  Nature/wildlife area in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Big Goose CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Bighorn National Forest OverlookScenic Drives & Falls

  Scenic viewpoint in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Boulder Park CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Bucking Mule Falls Observation PointScenic Drives & Falls

  Scenic viewpoint in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Bull Creek CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Bull Elk Park Natural AreaCulture & History

  Nature/wildlife area in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Burgess Picnic AreaRecreation & Play

  Picnic site in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Cabin Creek CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Cloud Peak WildernessCulture & History

  Nature/wildlife area in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Coffeen Park CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Connor Battlefield State ParkRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Cottonwood RV ParkRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Cross Creek CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Deer Park CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Devil's Kitchen OverlookScenic Drives & Falls

  Scenic viewpoint in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• East Fork CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Fallen City Scenic ViewpointScenic Drives & Falls

  Scenic viewpoint in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Granite Creek Picnic AreaRecreation & Play

  Picnic site in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Hettinger Group CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Hunter Corral CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Island Park CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Jim Bridger Historic TrailHiking & Biking

  Named trailhead in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Lake Point CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Leigh Creek CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Liberty Ranch CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Little Goose CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Lower Doyle Creek CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Lower Paint Rock Lake CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Medicine Lodge Lake CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Medicine Lodge Lower CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Medicine Lodge Wilderness Study AreaCulture & History

  Nature/wildlife area in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Middle Fork CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• North Fork Picnic AreaRecreation & Play

  Picnic site in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• North Tongue River CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Observation PointScenic Drives & Falls

  Scenic viewpoint in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Pine Island Picnic AreaRecreation & Play

  Picnic site in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Powder River Pass information signScenic Drives & Falls

  Scenic viewpoint in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Saltlick TrailheadHiking & Biking

  Named trailhead in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Scenic TurnoutScenic Drives & Falls

  Scenic viewpoint in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Scenic ViewpointScenic Drives & Falls

  Scenic viewpoint in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Shell Creek CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Shell FallsScenic Drives & Falls

  Waterfall in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Sibley Lake Recreation AreaRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Sitting BullRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Ten Sleep RV ParkRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Tongue Canyon CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Trapper Creek Wilderness Study AreaCulture & History

  Nature/wildlife area in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Twin Lakes Picnic AreaRecreation & Play

  Picnic site in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Upper Paint Rock Lake CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• West Tensleep Lake CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

• Willow Park CampgroundRecreation & Play

  Public campground in the Bighorn Mountains — an open-data find worth a look; confirm access and season locally.

The Bighorn Mountains events worth planning around

• Antelope Butte Winter Season

  annual, snow-dependent

  The community ski hill spins its lifts once snow allows — the anchor of a Sheridan winter trip. Best rates of the year on stays; pair with Antelope Butte turns by day and the Mint Bar by night.