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00:15 Highway 14 East 03:30 Highway 14 Southwest 06:00 Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area 07:30 Highway 14A West 13:29 Fin The Bighorn National Forest covers a vast expanse of land in north central Wyoming. The geology of this protected area definitely is unique. When gazing at a map, the Bighorn National Forest actually is a tall mountain range that looks like a big island in the middle of the high plains. The Bighorn certainly is an entirely different world than the flat farm land down below. The base of the Bighorn is 5,000 feet above sea level and the mountain peaks are over 13,000 feet tall. Up high in the Bighorn the forests are mixed in with cattle grazing meadows. The patches of towering rock outcrops are so inhospitable, that only one creature feels comfortable living in these conditions. This solitary animal species is Bighorn Sheep, which happen to have the ability to climb up and down towering sheer cliffs with great ease. There are only two paved highways that go through the Bighorn. Highway 14 traverses the north end of this national forest and it splits into three different directions, which can lead to confusion. At Burgess Junction in the Bighorn, Highway 14 goes east to Dayton, Ranchester and Sheridan, which is where modern stores and accommodations can be found. Highway 14 also goes south to Greybull. The third travel route option at Burgess Junction is Highway 14A, which goes due west to the Bighorn National Recreation Area, the small town of Lovell and onward to Cody. The most popular scenic destinations and campgrounds in the Bighorn National Forest are located along Highway 14A going west. All along this road are grassy mountain meadows, deep thick forests, towering majestic rock outcrops and plenty of good trout fishing streams. The ancient Medicine Wheel National Historical Landmark is also located on a hiking trail near 14A, so as can be imagined, an entire vacation can be planned around this section of the forest! All of the opportunities for outdoor adventures along Highway 14A do sound great, but a word of warning must be applied, especially for those who drive RV campers or haul trailers. Driving on top of the Bighorn is a piece of cake, because the roads go through rolling hills and mountain meadows. It is the western edge of the Bighorn where the fun begins. Highway 14A west has one of the steepest road grades in America. In fact, this type of ultra steep road grade was banned shortly after Highway 14A was completed. The uphill run on 14A will cause nearly any car to struggle to the point of overheating and the downhill run is guaranteed to absolutely scorch the brakes. For this reason, drivers of large RV campers and trailer haulers may want to select one of the other two Highway 14 options for the uphill and downhill rides. The U.S. National Forest Service describes the Bighorn as "a land of many uses" and this is clearly evident upon arrival in the high elevations. The Bighorn is a haven for wildlife, cattle ranching, horseback riding, sheep herding, outdoor sports, winter sports and off-highway recreational vehicles of all kinds. This wilderness offers some of the best elk hunting and fly fishing in west, while the ATV and snowmobile trails conveniently run just about everywhere up top. There also are plenty of cross country ski trails and hiking trails. To put it simply, the Bighorn certainly is an outdoorsman's dream come true! Wildlife viewing and nature photography is what many people like to do in the Bighorn Mountains and when the conditions are right, there is plenty of wildlife to see. Moose, elk, and mule deer are fairly easy to spot during the summer months. It does take a little more effort to spot some Bighorn Sheep on the high rocky outcrops. When hiking through the mountainous terrain, the friendly small animals like marmots, grouse and chipmunks all approach to say hello. There are also bears and mountain lions in the Bighorn, so it does pay to be aware of the surroundings when exploring this wilderness area. By far the moose is the most dangerous animal in the west. The 50 to 100 yard viewing distance rule is good to know. The drive to the Bighorn National Forest is quite a distance from anywhere that a visitor may come from, so it is best to plan on spending at least a few days up on the mountain to make the long trip worthwhile. Camping is the best option and the night can be icy cold. Stocking up on plenty of food and camping gear before heading up the mountain is best to do. Satellite communications may still be the only option in the Bighorn, so it is best to just plan on being completely cut off from the outside world. This all adds up to the great escape!
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February 2025
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