• Red cliffs descend into the water of Bighorn Canyon

    Bighorn Canyon

    National Recreation Area MT,WY

Animals

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area contains an amazing diversity of habitats. There are five climatic zones ranging from alpine areas to high desert. These zones create climatic conditions where a wide range of animals thrive. Everything from magnificent herds of Pryor Mountain wild horses to the park's namesake Bighorn sheep, visitors can see an array of wildlife in a relatively small area. Consider these facts:

Did You Know?

  • Bighorn Rams, which weigh up to 300 pounds, can reach speeds up to 40 mph when clashing during mating season.
  • Mule deer can jump an 8 foot fence and can perform a running long jump up to 25 feet.
  • Black bears do not hibernate during the winter, but they do enter a deep sleep.
  • Pryor Mountain horses have strong Spanish ancestry and are considered a unique genetic resource since horses of this type are no longer present in Spain.

Click on the above links to learn more!

Bighorn Sheep along the roadside in the South District
Bighorn Sheep along the roadside in the South District
NPS (Henthorne)

Did You Know?

Fisherman's Catch, photo by Doug Haacke

The Bighorn River is rated one of the world’s finest trout streams because of its abundant and large trout, dense insect hatches, and easy accessibility.  When water is plentiful, populations of brown and rainbow trout can number almost 11,000 fish per mile. More...