Escape the Crowd: Big Horn Canyon

Yellowstone National Park had 3.8 million visitors in 2020 making it the second most popular national park for the year. Visitors flock to the park to see wildlife, witness the different thermal features, hike, camp, and fish. During the summer months, Yellowstone can be crowded with people, especially mid-day at popular spots like Old Faithful. Nearby Grand Teton National Park also ranked in the Top 10 of national parks visited in 2020. The close proximity of Grand Teton and Yellowstone make them a natural fit for visitors to tour both parks during the same vacation. 

Visitors who enjoy National Park sites but need a break from crowds while in Wyoming are in luck. The National Park Service also runs Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area less than an hour drive from Cody, WY, which is a popular base town for visitors to Yellowstone. The south visitor center for Big Horn Canyon is located in Lovell, WY. Big Horn Canyon offers boating, camping, hiking and vast views of the canyon. 

The south district of Big Horn Canyon offers numerous hiking trails ranging in lengths from .25 mile to almost 5 miles. Getting on the water by boat, canoe or kayak gives you a wonderful view of the colorful canyon and the expanse of the steep canyon walls. The north and south district both have marinas. Find more information on boating here. Devil Canyon Overlook is the perfect spot to view the canyon and see the impact the Big Horn River has had on the land. 

The canyon area has a rich history from Paleo-Indians to mountain men and dude ranches. The road through the park follows Bad Pass Trail which has thousands of years of history. The trail is where most of the archeological work in the park centers around. 

The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The south district visitor center is closed Sundays and Mondays during the Fall, Winter and Spring season but open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Summer hours are Memorial Day through Labor Day, and the visitor center is open daily, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Article and photos courtesy of WeKnowWyo contributor, Shannon Dutcher.