Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (Like the Grand Canyon, but without People)

After visiting the crowded Yellowstone National Park and having also visited the Grand Canyon National Park, the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is a way to get away from the crowds.  This incredible canyon, one of the largest in the USA that spans through Wyoming and Montana, is just a 2-hour drive from Yellowstone and nearly as grand as the Grand Canyon.   It’s to our advantage that this place is not called “Bighorn Canyon National Park”!  My visit mid-week in late May had very few other visitors and campsites with only a few fellow campers.   This post covers the southern part of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, as accessed from Lovell, Wyoming.  There is also a northern section that is accessed via Montana, but I didn’t not visit that portion of the park.

Things to Do in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Visitor Center

The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Visitor Center is located at the junction of Highway 310 and Alt 14 on the eastern edge of Lovell, Wyoming.  They have lots of great displays, videos, and information here.  It’s worth a stop before a visit into the park.  Once you head north on highway 37, there are no facilities other than restrooms and campgrounds.

Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center

Right next door to the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center is the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center.  You can see a few wild mustangs in a meadow here and visit the center if it’s open.  If you are lucky, you will also see

some in the park.  It’s most common to see them in the evening.

Off-roading in the Sand Dunes

As you drive highway 37 back into the Bighorn Canyon, you will pass an awesome looking Off Road Vehicle area in the dunes.  This area is just outside the park.

Boating

Boating and fishing are some of the more popular activities here.  I didn’t take a boat ride, but they are available through several outfitters.

Vistas

It’s all about the vistas in this park.  It’s worth driving each of the few roads in the park and down through each of the campgrounds to see what views you can find of the canyon and rock formations.  The best views are from the Devil Canyon Overlook.

Wildlife

Keep your eyes open.  While I didn’t see abundant wildlife, there are many animals in the adjacent Pryor Mountains.  I did see a few wild mustangs and deer.  Bears are also quite common in this area.

Wildflowers

The wildflowers are especially abundant in the late spring.  I loved the combination of whites, yellows, pinks and purples.

Camping in Bighorn Canyon

There are two main campgrounds for RV or Car camping – Horseshoe Bend and Trail Creek at Barry’s Landing.  They have very reasonable camping fees of $10 for primitive sites and $20 for hook-ups.  Compare that to the $30 you’d pay at Yellowstone or nearly $40 at Grand Teton for non-hook-up sites.

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Lovell, Wyoming

The quaint town of Lovell, Wyoming is the gateway to the southern section of Bighorn canyon.  It’s a cute little town with grocery store, gas, family run motels (Check Rates and Availability), and the coolest hometown movie theater I’ve ever seen.  A hidden gem of Lovell – there’s a small, free city campground that has free clean hot showers!  (Donations accepted).  I did some van camping here.

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