Bighorn National Forest

Rising abruptly from the Great Plains in north-central Wyoming, Bighorn National Forest protects over 1.1 million acres of the Bighorn Mountains, an isolated range reaching to 13,167 feet at Cloud Peak. The Cloud Peak Wilderness encompasses 189,039 acres of alpine terrain with over 200 glacially carved lakes, permanent snowfields, and some of the most pristine backcountry in Wyoming. The forest's 1,500 miles of streams support outstanding trout fishing for rainbow, brown, brook, and cutthroat trout, with many waters accessible only by trail. The Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark, a sacred Native American stone structure at nearly 10,000 feet elevation, draws visitors seeking cultural and spiritual connection with the landscape. Tensleep Canyon on the forest's western slope has become a world-class sport climbing destination with hundreds of bolted routes on limestone walls. Three scenic highways -- US 14, US 14A, and US 16 -- cross the range through dramatic switchbacks and high alpine passes, providing accessible sightseeing alongside vast meadows where elk, mule deer, moose, and bighorn sheep graze.