The Bighorn Mountains extend from the plains and Great Basin area of Wyoming northward into south central Montana.
Travelers hunting for breathtaking panoramic views will find them in the Bighorns, and several of the most beautiful vistas can easily be enjoyed on the Bighorn Scenic Byway. A 58-mile stretch from Dayton to Shell on US-14, the byway takes viewers by Shell Falls, where 3,600 gallons of water per second plunge over the 120-foot falls. Views of canyons and mountains are accented by wildflowers and fishing streams along this scenic stretch.
Loaded with viewpoints and hiking trails along the way, the Bighorn Scenic Byway is a 57-mile scenic drive that carves its way through the mountains of Bighorn National Forest. The byway runs between Shell and Dayton, Wyoming along US Highway 14. This route is open between May and September.
One of the first major stops is the Shell Canyon Falls Interpretive Site. It is 11 miles outside of the town of Shell and has a decent sized parking lot. There is a walkway that overlooks the falls as the water plunges 120ft over granite cliffs into a carved out canyon below. The observation walkway wraps around in a small mile loop following the canyon edge providing views of Brindle Falls and Copman’s Tomb.
The road continues to twist and turn as it works its way up the western slopes of the Bighorns, past the old ski slopes of Antelope Butte, and crosses over the crest of the mountains at Granite Pass. Here the drive levels out a bit, but continues its awe-inspiring journey past Burgess Junction and Sibley Lake.
Steamboat Point is a fantastic stop at mile 45 providing gorgeous views of the Bighorns. There is a steep single track trail lined with wildflowers that weaves between large boulders terminating in an incredible 360 vantage point.
Another highway – Cloud Peak Byway – runs along Highway 16 and is referred to by locals as The Sweet 16. It takes drivers through Ten Sleep Canyon and over Powder River Pass, offering a view of the highest point in the Bighorns — the 13,167-foot Cloud Peak. The area is home to moose, bears and elk.
The Medicine Wheel Passage (US 14A) rises sharply from the Bighorn Basin near the city of Lovell and travels 25 miles through high alpine meadows to Burgess Junction, where it intersects with the Bighorn Scenic Byway. This route also boasts the largest ancient Medicine Wheel site in North America.
The Big Horn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest are an outdoor paradise filled with recreational opportunities including camping, hiking and backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, photography, snowmobiling, skiing, and sledding.
The Bighorn National Forest, including the Cloud Peak Wilderness is unique and diverse. Within the National Forest area, you can encounter grass prairies, evergreen forests, mountain meadows, rugged alpine peaks, dramatic canyons, arid desert lands, and cascading waterfalls – all within a day’s journey.