• Red cliffs descend into the water of Bighorn Canyon

    Bighorn Canyon

    National Recreation Area MT,WY

History & Culture

The Old Gate at the Lockhart Ranch
The Old Gate at the Lockhart Ranch
Christy Fleming
 

If you love history, then Bighorn Canyon is the place to be!

From paths blazed by Paleo-Indians, to the story of the Crow people’s fight for land and justice. From the era of mountain men and their transforming passages through the area, to the story of the first war lost by the United States government.

The historical legacies of open range, family and dude ranching and a host of eccentrics living out extraordinary lives live on at the park. Fast forward to our own times, where the harnessing of a river’s power helps set light to our world and today, where two hundred thousand arrive annually in search of their own adventure.

The history of the Bighorn Canyon area illustrates how humans left their imprint upon the landscape and how the land itself shaped their lives into a story unsurpassed in the history of the American West.

  • Four historic ranches Four historic ranches

    People who changed and were in turn changed by this land Read More

  • Fort C.F. Smith Fort C.F. Smith

    For over two years, Fort C.F. Smith withstood attacks Read More

  • Yellowtail Dam Yellowtail Dam

    The Yellowtail Dam harnessed the power of the Bighorn’s waters Read More

  • Bad Pass Trail Bad Pass Trail

    The Bad Pass Trail has been traveled for 12,000 years Read More

Did You Know?

North Yellowtail Habitat Management Area in the fall

The Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area is a paradise for bird watchers.  Over 155 bird species can be observed throughout the year including the great blue heron, bald eagles, and white pelicans. More...