National Recreation Area

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

West

About Bighorn Canyon

The vast, wild landscape of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers visitors unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in the natural world, and experience the wonders of this extraordinary place. With over 120,000 acres, one can find an astounding diversity in ecosystems, wildlife, and more than 10,000 years of human history to explore.

From the National Park Service.

Region: West
States: Montana and Wyoming
Designation: National Recreation Area
Entrance fee: None listed

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Bighorn Canyon.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

Bighorn Canyon NRA is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Weather and when to go

North District: Semi-arid, receiving 18 to 20 inches of rain annually. South District: High-desert, receiving 6 to 10 inches of rain annually. Summer temperatures: Highs in the 80s (F) and 90s (F), lows in the 50s (F) and 60s (F). Summer temperatures can peak over 100 degrees. Winter temperatures: Range in the 20s and 30s with low temperatures averaging the 10s (F) and 20s (F). During the winter the thermometer can drop below 0 (F) with extreme wind chill factors.

Getting there

Bighorn Canyon has two districts that are separated by a three hour drive. To get to the North District at Fort Smith, MT from Billings, take Interstate 90 south to Hardin, MT. Turn at exit 495 onto State Highway 313 to St. Xavier and then to Fort Smith, Montana. To get to the South District at Lovell, WY from Billings, MT, take Interstate 90 west. Turn at exit 434 at Laurel, MT. Turn onto US 310 East/US 212 South. Turn at US 310 East to Lovell. The visitor center is on the east side of Lovell.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center, 20 US Hwy 14A, Lovell, WY 82431
Phone: (307) 548-5406
Email: BICA_media@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/bica

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Bighorn Canyon

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Bighorn Canyon

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Devil Canyon Overlook at Bighorn Canyon NRA

Scenic Driving · about 45 min

One of the most iconic views in the park, Devil Canyon Overlook is a must see for everyone visiting the south district of the park accessed from Lovell, Wyoming.

Campgrounds in Bighorn Canyon

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

Horseshoe Bend Campground

10 reservable sites · 38 first-come sites

- Located near Lovell, WY - Open All Year - All sites include fire pit and picnic table. - 68 RV and tent sites - 28 sites have water and electrical hook-ups.…
Barry's Landing & Trail Creek Campground

1 reservable site · 30 first-come sites

Barry's Landing & Trail Creek campgrounds are located on the south district near Barry's Landing, 27 miles north of Lovell, WY on HWY 37. - Open All Year - 14…
Afterbay Campground

22 reservable sites

- Near Fort Smith, Montana - Open All Year - 22 RV and tent sites are located on the south shore of Afterbay lake - All sites have fire rings and picnic tables…
Grapevine Campground

12 reservable sites

- Near Fort Smith, Montana - Open All Year! - 14 RV and tent sites are located on the north shore of Afterbay lake - RV sites are back in (not pull through) -…
Medicine Creek Campground

8 first-come sites

Medicine Creek campground is a boat-in or hike-in only campground. It is approximately 3 miles north of Barry's Landing by land or water. - Open All Year - Lak…
Black Canyon Campground

17 first-come sites

Black Canyon is a boat-in-only campground located five lake miles from the Ok-A-Beh boat ramp. Black Canyon occasionally closes due to aggressive bear activity…
Dayboard 9 Campground

5 first-come sites

This small boat in only campground is located at Dayboard 9, approximately 9 miles south of Okabeh Marina. During the summer season (Memorial Day - Labor Day)…