Big Horn Mountains Travel Information

Near Area Attractions Motel 6 Wyoming

The Big Horn Mountains are a majestic range of peaks located in north central Wyoming which have inspired those who have had the opportunity to explore them for centuries. Rising as a spine between the Big Horn Basin to the West and the Powder River Basin to the east, the 70 mile long Big Horn Mountain Range contains over 1.1 million acres of terrain, 189,000 acres of which is within the federally designated Cloud Peak Wilderness. Most peaks within the Big Horn Mountains sore well over 9000 feet, with several reaching over 13000 feet, including Cloud Peak, the highest of the range at 13175 feet. The name 'Big Horn' for this range was not by mistake, as there are numerous Big Horn sheep within the range, and wildlife viewing is prime for both sheep, black bear and other large game animals. Outdoor enthusiasts will be impressed by the variety of recreational opportunity this land offers and should plan to spend some quality time here effectively experience this rugged land.

There are three different National Scenic Byways which cross the Big Horn Mountain Range, allowing travelers to enjoy the impressive scenery of the range from the comfort of their automobiles. These routes are especially popular as a detour amongst National Park travelers from Yellowstone and Teton National Parks to the Devils Tower National Monument and the Black Hills. Highway 16, which was the original route over the range, blazes along the southern Big Horn Mountains and offers the easiest driving of the three, winding over Powder Horn Pass and past the impressive views of the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Highway 14 cuts across the northern section of the range, connecting Greybull and Dayton, offering impressive vistas and scenery along its entire length, including views of Shell Falls as it plummets 120 feet over rock faces. The third highway, Highway 14A, connects Dayton with Lovell and is only open during the summer months. The roadway of 14A is an attraction in itself, engineered in the style of mountain roads of the European Alps, and is especially steep and winding inspiring white knuckle grip on the steering wheel. Views from all three roadways are amazing and are worth the extra driving time. There are a scattering of lodging and dining options along both route 16 and route 14 for travelers to this area, and most are mountain lodge style and are open year-round.