Bighorn Mountains Photography Spots: A Complete Location Guide
August 22, 2026 · 5 min read read · Wyo Stays Journal
Chasing a good sunset shot in the Bighorns rewards patience more than gear, and the range changes character fast enough that the same overlook can look completely different an hour apart. Wyo Stays has walked plenty of visitors through this terrain, from phone-camera guests chasing one good frame to serious hobbyists hauling tripods up before dawn, and the pattern holds no matter what's in your bag.
The best bighorn mountains photography spots near Sheridan are Steamboat Point, Tongue River Canyon, Burgess Junction overlooks, and Meadowlark Lake — each offering a different combination of granite peaks, water reflections, and open sky within an hour or two of town. Golden hour, roughly 45 minutes after sunrise or before sunset, gives the cleanest light on the rock. Locals know to check the weather radar before committing to a drive, since summer storms build over the peaks by early afternoon.
Bighorn Mountains Photography Spots Worth the Drive
Steamboat Point, about 45 minutes from Sheridan on US-14, gives you a dramatic foreground rock formation with the high peaks behind it — one of the most photographed spots in the range for good reason. Tongue River Canyon near Dayton offers tighter, more intimate compositions: limestone canyon walls, a clear creek, and good texture in mid-morning light before the sun gets too high overhead.
Burgess Junction, where US-14 and US-14A meet, sits in open high country with wide meadow views and easy pullouts for wide-angle landscape shots. Meadowlark Lake, further along the Cloud Peak Skyway, is the spot for reflection shots — still mornings before the wind picks up are your best window.
| Location | Drive from Sheridan | Best subject | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steamboat Point | ~45 min | Granite spire foreground | Sunrise/sunset golden hour |
| Tongue River Canyon | ~30 min | Canyon walls, creek texture | Mid-morning |
| Burgess Junction | ~50 min | Wide meadow, night sky | Evening + after dark |
| Meadowlark Lake | ~75 min | Water reflections | Calm early morning |
Drive times are estimates from downtown Sheridan under normal summer road conditions.
When Is the Best Light for Shooting the Bighorns?
Early morning, within the first hour after sunrise, gives you the calmest air for reflections and the warmest light on the east-facing rock faces. Evening light in the last hour before sunset lights up the peaks from the west and tends to produce more dramatic color in the sky, especially if there's any cloud cover to catch the color. Midday light is flat and harsh at this elevation — we tell guests to use those hours for driving between locations or hiking in, then shoot when the light gets low again.
Summer (June–August) gives you long days, green meadows, and wildflowers at the higher elevations, but also means arriving early to beat both crowds and afternoon storms. Fall (mid-September through early October) brings golden aspen stands lower in the foothills and crisp, clear air that makes distant peaks look sharp in wide shots. Winter photography up here means snow-draped peaks and dramatically different compositions, but many of the higher roads close seasonally — check conditions before planning a winter shoot at elevation. Spring offers runoff-swollen creeks in the canyons, good for water motion shots, though access to the high country is still limited by snowpack into June most years.
How Much Gear Do You Actually Need?
A phone with a good camera and basic composition sense will get you a strong sunset shot at any of these spots — plenty of our guests come away with images worth framing using nothing more. If you're bringing a dedicated camera, a wide-angle lens (16–35mm equivalent) covers most of the landscape work here, and a polarizing filter helps cut glare on water and saturate the sky. A sturdy tripod matters more than a fancy lens if you're shooting reflections at Meadowlark Lake or want sharp long exposures in the canyon.
A short checklist covers most of what you'd want on a full day chasing these bighorn mountains photography spots:
- Wide-angle lens or a phone with a stable grip
- Polarizing filter for water and sky
- Sturdy tripod for reflections or low light
- Extra layers, since temperatures drop fast once the sun gets low
Is it safe to shoot near cliffs and overlooks at night for stars? Yes, with basic precautions — stick to marked pullouts and established trails, bring a headlamp with a red-light mode to preserve your night vision, and never approach an edge you haven't scouted in daylight. The Bighorns have minimal light pollution, which makes them excellent for night sky and Milky Way photography, especially from Burgess Junction or the higher meadows along the Skyway. Cell service is spotty to nonexistent at most of these locations, so let someone know your plan and expected return time before heading out for a night shoot.
Wyo Stays is a licensed, insured Wyoming vacation rental brokerage, and staying close to the mountain front shaves real time off your pre-dawn drive when you're chasing golden hour at Steamboat Point or Burgess Junction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where are the best photo spots in the Bighorns? A: Steamboat Point, Tongue River Canyon, Burgess Junction, and Meadowlark Lake are the top picks near Sheridan, each within roughly 30 to 75 minutes of town and offering a different type of shot, from canyon texture to lake reflections.
Q: What's the best time of day to photograph the Bighorn Mountains? A: Golden hour — the hour after sunrise and before sunset — gives the warmest, most flattering light on the peaks. Midday light is flat and harsh, so plan your drive and hiking for that window instead.
Q: Do I need a professional camera to get good shots? A: No. A smartphone with good composition will capture strong images at any of these locations. A dedicated camera with a wide lens and polarizing filter helps for serious landscape or long-exposure work.
Q: Is stargazing photography possible in the Bighorns? A: Yes. Low light pollution at Burgess Junction and similar high-elevation spots makes the range excellent for night sky and Milky Way shots, especially on clear, moonless nights.
Q: Are these photography locations easy to access? A: Most are reachable by paved highway with marked pullouts, making them accessible without technical hiking. Some, like sections of Tongue River Canyon, require a short walk from the trailhead.
Book a Basecamp Close to the Mountain Front
If you're chasing that perfect shot, our stargazing guide covers the same high-country locations after dark — the Stargazing post has specific timing tips for Milky Way season. Book Direct — No Channel Fees and put the savings toward an extra tank of gas for chasing golden hour — reserve your stay here.
For a full overview of the region, start with our Sheridan Vacation Guide, and browse Wyo Stays properties close to the mountain front for the shortest drive to sunrise light. Book direct at book.wyostays.com and let wyostays.com handle the reservation while you scout your next bighorn mountains photography spots itinerary.