Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

National recreation area in the United States

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Snowfall on the Bighorn Canyon in the North District

Show map of Montana

Show map of the United States

Location| Big Horn and Carbon counties, Montana & Big Horn County, Wyoming, USA
Nearest city| Billings, Montana
Coordinates| 45°11′40″N 108°7′50″W﻿ / ﻿45.19444°N 108.13056°W﻿ / 45.19444; -108.13056
Area| 120,296.22 acres (486.8215 km2)[1]
Established| October 15, 1966
Visitors| 217,660 (in 2022)[2]
Governing body| National Park Service
Website| Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Wild horses in the Pryor Mountains along the Wyoming-Montana border Bighorn Lake in the South District

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is a national recreation area established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, following the construction of the Yellowtail Dam by the Bureau of Reclamation. It is one of over 420 sites managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The recreation area spans 120,296.22 acres, straddling the border between Wyoming and Montana. It is divided into two distinct areas, the North District accessed via Fort Smith, Montana and the South District accessed through Lovell, Wyoming. There is no thru road inside the recreation area connecting the two districts. The Yellowtail Dam is located in the North District. It is named after the famous Crow leader Robert Yellowtail, harnesses the waters of the Bighorn River by turning that variable watercourse into Bighorn Lake. The lake extends 71 miles (114 km) through Wyoming and Montana, 55 miles (89 km) of which lie within the national recreation area.[3] The lake provides recreational boating, fishing, water skiing, kayaking, and birding opportunities to visitors. About one third of the park unit is located on the Crow Indian Reservation.[4] Nearly one-quarter of the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range lies within the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.[5]

## History

[edit]

### Early history

[edit]

Archaeologists have found evidence of people living in the vicinity of Bighorn Canyon for as far back as 12,000 years ago. The Bad Pass trail, along the west side of the canyon, provided passage for Indigenous peoples from Bighorn basin to the Grapevine Creek area.[6] The Grapevine Creek area in present day Montana opened up to the plains, where buffalo could be found. Evidence suggests that people did not live along the trail but used it for seasonal passage or migration.[7]

### Recent history

[edit]

The Crow peoples, also known as Apsáalooke or Absarokaa, migrated to the region of Bighorn Canyon sometime during the 16th Century.[8] Other peoples migrated through the area as well, but by the 18th century the Crow had settled in the Bighorn country.[9] There were clashes with tribes such as the Blackfeet, Sioux, Cheyenne, and several other tribes over the land. In the late 1800s the Crow aligned themselves with the U.S. Government and were enlisted as scouts.[9] In 1851, the Fort Laramie Treaty (1851) identified 38 million acres of Crow territory.[10] In the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, the Crow territory was diminished to eight million acres.[10] Through the 19th century, as more and more land was ceded to the U.S. Government, Bighorn Canyon remained in the heart of Crow country.

By 1950 the federal government had decided to use the Pick-Sloan Flood Control Act of 1944 to dam the Bighorn River and fill the Bighorn Canyon with water.[11] Members of the Crow Tribe were against the building of the dam because Bighorn Canyon is considered a sacred place.[11] Robert Yellowtail, a leader in the Crow Nation and Superintendent from 1934-1945, fought against the building of the dam. The government wanted 7,000 acres of Crow land and offered $1.5 million to buy it.[11] The Crow valued the land at $5 million. Negotiation ensued and ultimately the government decided to buy 12,000 acres for $5 million.[12] The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation then named the 525 foot structure "Yellowtail Dam" after Robert Yellowtail.[12] By this point the Crow reservation was at the almost 2.3 million acres it is today. The Crow reservation surrounds the northern portion of Bighorn Canyon, but the canyon itself is now owned by the United States Government.[9]

On October 29, 1975, the Bad Pass trail was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[13]

## Park management

[edit]

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area received 217,660 visitors in 2022.[14] It is managed as part of a group of parks referred to as the Powder River group. The group also includes Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, and Devils Tower National Monument.[15] This group of parks is in the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service.

### Visitor centers

[edit]

Yellowtail Dam Visitor Center is located in Fort Smith, Montana in close proximity to the top of Yellowtail Dam. The visitor center is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The access road to the Yellowtail Dam Visitor Center is only open during the operating hours of the visitor center. In the South District the Cal S. Taggart Visitor Center is located and Lovell, Wyoming and is open year round. It is closed on Sundays during the fall, winter, and spring.[16]

## Recreation

[edit]

### Camping and hiking

[edit]

There are seven designated campgrounds in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Four of the campgrounds are drive-in and open year round. The largest is Horseshoe Bend Campground in the South District near Lovell, Wyoming. It has 68 sites. Most of its sites are available on a first come, first serve basis, with the exception of five sites available by online reservation.[17] The Trail Creek/Barry's Landing campground is also in the South District with thirty sites. In the North District, the largest campground is Afterbay Campground, consisting of 22 sites. The second drive-in campground in the North District is the Grapevine Campground with fourteen sites. One campground, Medicine Creek, is accessible by boating or hiking in. Medicine Creek Campground has five sites and is located in the South District. The two remaining campgrounds are only accessible by boat and are located in the North District. Black Canyon Campground, with seventeen sites, is located five miles from the Ok-A-Beh Marina. Dayboard 9 Campground has five sites and is approximately nine miles from the Ok-A-Beh Marina.[18]

Backcountry camping is permitted along the reservoir below the high water of 3,640 feet or in undeveloped areas near Bighorn Lake.[19] Fires are not permitted at backcountry campsites. There are two developed waterway campsites located in the canyon at Big Bull Elk Creek and Dry Head Creek.

There are fifteen hiking trails in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area with a total of approximately seventeen miles of trails.[20] The North District has 3 trails and the South District has twelve trails. The longest trail in the North District is the Beaver Pond Nature trail and is 2.6 miles long. The longest trail in the South District is the Sykes Trail at 4.6 miles long. There are two trails in the recreation area considered handicap accessible, both located in the South District. One handicap trail is the Visitor Center Pond path and is 0.26 miles long. The other is Two Eagles Interpretive Trail and is 0.25 miles long.[20] Pets are permitted on trails in the recreation area but are required to be leashed.

### Boating

[edit]

Bighorn Lake offers 12,700 surface acres of water for recreation, with 191 miles of shoreline.[21] There are two marinas in the recreation area. Ok-A-Beh Marina is in the North District and Horseshoe Bend Marina is in the South District. Visitors may use motorboats, kayaks, canoes, stand up paddle boards, or most personal watercraft, provided they have the required state inspections and Aquatic Invasive Species decals.[22] Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inspection stations are intended to keep harmful invasive species such as the Quagga mussel or Zebra mussel out of Montana waters.[23] Boats are also required to display a valid registration.

The National Park Service offers free guided kayaking tours on Bighorn Lake during the summer. Concessionaires offer canoe, kayak, and standup paddle board rentals in the South District. Pontoon rentals are available at Ok-A-Beh Marina.[24]

### Fishing

[edit]

Prior to the construction of the Yellowtail Dam the Bighorn River was a warm water fishery. Following construction, the waters below the dam transformed into a cold tailwater fishery where rainbow and brown trout spawn.[25] Meanwhile, the reservoir behind the dam supports spawning for smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and ling.[25] Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks stocks the reservoir with walleye and it is managed as a walleye fishery.[26] Largemouth bass, sauger, shovelnose sturgeon, crappie, yellow perch, pumpkinseed, stonecat, and carp are among the fish that may be caught in the reservoir.

Fishing in the Afterbay reservoir is available both by shoreline and by boat. Rainbow trout is the main species of fish caught in Afterbay. For anglers interested in fishing the Bighorn River, there is a boat ramp immediately below Afterbay Dam. In the local town of Fort Smith there are several guiding companies, hunting and fishing lodges, or boat rental companies to service the needs of visiting anglers. Fishing licenses are required when fishing in the National Recreation Area but are issued by the respective states. Anglers are required to have a fishing license for the state they are fishing in.[27]

### Hunting

[edit]

While hunting is usually not permitted in units managed by the National Park Service, it is permitted in certain areas of Bighorn National Recreation Area.[28] Hunters are required to be knowledgeable of the hunting regulations and strongly encouraged to contact National Park Service rangers in the area prior to hunting.[28] Hunting lodges in Fort Smith offer guides and equipment for hire.

### Caving

[edit]

The recreation area contains numerous caves. The Bighorn Cavern in particular is used by people interested in caving. Management of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area requires cavers to obtain a permit at the Cal S. Taggart visitor center in Lovell, Wyoming.[29] Two parties are permitted which must consist of between three and six people. Each party is required to have a member who is familiar with the cave.

## Ecology

[edit]

### Fauna

[edit]

Bighorn Canyon provides habitat for at least 231 species of birds.[30] Bighorn sheep, black bear, mule deer, mountain lions, pronghorn, coyotes, beavers, and marmots are among the species that live in the varied climates in the recreation area. The black-tailed prairie dog and the swift fox are both listed as Species of Concern by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, & Parks and inhabit the North District of Bighorn Canyon.[31] The gray wolf has been observed in the same region of Wyoming where the South District of Bighorn Canyon is located.[32]

## Climate

[edit]

The North District of Bighorn Canyon is classified as semi-arid and receives an average of 18 inches of rain per year. The South District is a high desert with an annual rainfall of 6 to 10 inches.[33]

## Park features

[edit]

Afterbay Lake, located below Yellowtail Dam, is a popular spot for trout fishing as well as for viewing ducks, geese and other animals.[34] The Bighorn River below the Afterbay Dam is likewise a world-class trout fishing area.[34][35] In addition, the area features many archeological and historical resources.[36] Visitor centers and other developed facilities are located in Fort Smith, Montana, and near Lovell, Wyoming.[3]

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area has four historic ranches within its boundaries:[37]

* L Slash Heart Ranch was owned by Caroline Lockhart, a notable journalist and novelist in the early 1900s.[38] Two of her books were made into silent films in the 1920s.[38]
* Mason-Lovell Ranch was operating during the open range days of the 1880s; the ranch once had 25,000 cattle roaming the entire Bighorn Basin.[39]
* Cedarvale Ranch, located in the ghost town of Hillsboro, Montana, was a dude ranch owned by native New Yorker Grosvener W. "Doc" Barry, and attracted people for vacations.[40] Visitors included Doc Barry's friend President Teddy Roosevelt, but attracting other vacationers proved more difficult.[40]
* Ewing-Snell Ranch is a former family ranch started by Erastus Ewing.[41] Ewing went west to get rich in gold mining, but he was not successful in the gold fields and turned to ranching.[41]

North of Lovell along the Sullivan Knob's Trail is one of the national recreation area's more unusual claims to fame.[42] There a visitor can stand in a certain spot on the canyon rim, shout across the canyon and then hear a "triple echo" in reply.[42]

## See also

[edit]

* Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range – Wildlife refuge in Montana and Wyoming, US

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Listing of acreage – December 31, 2011" (XLSX). Land Resource Division, National Park Service. Retrieved December 16, 2012. (National Park Service Acreage Reports)
2. ^ "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
3. ^ a b "Management: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area". National Park Service. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
4. ^ "The National Parks Index 2009-2011". National Park Service. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
5. ^ "Wild Horses." Billings Field Office. Bureau of Land Management. United States Department of the Interior. May 2, 2011. Archived June 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 2011-05-18.
6. ^ "NPS Archeology Program: Research in the Parks". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
7. ^ "NPS Archeology Program: Research in the Parks". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
8. ^ "NPS Archeology Program: Research in the Parks". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
9. ^ a b c Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "The Crow Nation - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 24, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
10. ^ a b "Crow Reservation Timeline" (PDF).
11. ^ a b c Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Yellowtail Dam - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 28, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
12. ^ a b Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Robert Yellowtail - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 28, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
13. ^ "Bad Pass Trail". wyoshpo.wyo.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
14. ^ "Stats Report Viewer". irma.nps.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
15. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "James Hill selected as superintendent of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
16. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Basic Information - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
17. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Horseshoe Bend Campground - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 15, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
18. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Campgrounds - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 15, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
19. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Superintendent's Compendium - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 15, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
20. ^ a b Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Hiking - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 15, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
21. ^ "Montana Recreation". www.usbr.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
22. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Bring Your Own Boat - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
23. ^ "Protect Montana Water's From Aquatic Invasive Species | Montana FWP". fwp.mt.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
24. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Marinas, Tours and Rentals - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
25. ^ a b "FISHMT :: Waterbody Details". myfwp.mt.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
26. ^ "FISHMT :: Waterbody Details". myfwp.mt.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
27. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Fishing - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
28. ^ a b Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Superintendent's Compendium - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
29. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Cave / Karst Systems - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
30. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Birds - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 15, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
31. ^ Webmaster, David Ratz. "(Family) Wolves / Coyotes / Foxes - Montana Field Guide". fieldguide.mt.gov. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
32. ^ Orabona, A. C.; Rudd, C.K.; Bjornlie, N.L.; Walker, Z.J.; Estes-Zumpf, W. (December 2021). "ATLAS OF BIRDS, MAMMALS, AMPHIBIANS, AND REPTILES IN WYOMING" (PDF). Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
33. ^ Lovell, Mailing Address: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center 20 US Hwy 14A; Lovell, WY 82431 Phone: 307 548-5406548-5406 is the South District in; Smith, WY 666-9961 is the North District in Fort; Us, MT Contact. "Weather - Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
34. ^ a b "Federal Register, Volume 70, Issue 104 (July 1, 2005), pp. 31345-31353". Government Printing Office. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
35. ^ Maffly, Brian (2007). "Battle on the Bighorn: Holding back water for Bighorn Lake recreation could doom the world-class trout fishery downstream". Montana Outdoors. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
36. ^ "Nature & Science: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area". National Park Service. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
37. ^ "Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Lowell, Wyoming". National Park Service. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
38. ^ a b Clayton, John. "The Old West's Female Champion: Caroline Lockhart and Wyoming's Cowboy Heritage". Wyoming State Historical Society, WyoHistory.org. Retrieved November 26, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
39. ^ Albert, Saige. "Historic ranch makes its mark: Mason-Lovell influences Big Horn Basin cattle". Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
40. ^ a b "Doc Barry and the Voyage of the Edith". National Park Service. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
41. ^ a b "The Erastus Ewing". National Park Service. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
42. ^ a b "Sullivan's Knob Trail: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area". National Park Service. Retrieved November 25, 2013.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Edwin C. Bearss. "Historic Structures Report and History Research Study" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
* Edwin C. Bearss (1970). "Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area-Montana-Wyoming History Basic Data Volume 1" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
* Edwin C. Bearss (1970). "Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area-Montana-Wyoming History Basic Data Volume 2" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

* "Bighorn National Recreation Area". National Park Service.
* Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area tour". MontanaPictures.net.

* v
* t
* e

National recreation areas of the United States

National Park Service|

* Amistad
* Bighorn Canyon
* Boston Harbor Islands
* Chattahoochee River
* Chickasaw
* Curecanti
* Delaware Water Gap
* Gateway
* Gauley River
* Glen Canyon
* Golden Gate
* Lake Chelan
* Lake Mead
* Lake Meredith
* Lake Roosevelt
* Ross Lake
* Santa Monica Mountains
* Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity

U.S. Forest Service|

* Allegheny
* Arapaho
* Ed Jenkins
* Flaming Gorge
* Grand Island
* Hells Canyon
* Jemez
* Land Between The Lakes
* Moosalamoo
* Mount Baker
* Mount Hood
* Mount Rogers
* Oregon Dunes
* Pine Ridge
* Rattlesnake
* Robert T. Stafford White Rocks
* Sawtooth
* Smith River
* Spring Mountains
* Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks
* Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity
* Winding Stair Mountain

Bureau of Land
Management|

* White Mountains

* v
* t
* e

Protected areas of Wyoming

Federal|

| National parks|

* Grand Teton
* Yellowstone

|

National monuments|

* Devils Tower
* Fossil Butte

National Historic Sites|

* Fort Laramie

National Historic Trails|

* California Trail
* Mormon Trail
* Oregon Trail
* Pony Express

National Wildlife Refuges|

* Bamforth
* Cokeville Meadows
* Elk
* Hutton Lake
* Jackson Fish Hatchery
* Mortenson Lake
* Pathfinder
* Seedskadee

National recreation areas|

* Bighorn Canyon
* Flaming Gorge (USFS)

National forests|

* Ashley
* Bighorn
* Bridger–Teton
* Caribou–Targhee
* Medicine Bow–Routt
* Shoshone

National grasslands|

* Thunder Basin

Wilderness Areas|

* Absaroka–Beartooth
* Bridger
* Cloud Peak
* Encampment River
* Fitzpatrick
* Gros Ventre
* Huston Park
* Jedediah Smith
* North Absaroka
* Platte River
* Popo Agie
* Savage Run
* Teton
* Washakie
* Winegar Hole

Wild and Scenic Rivers|

* Clarks Fork Yellowstone River
* Niobrara River
* Snake River

Former|

* Jackson Hole National Monument

State|

| State Parks|

* Bear River
* Boysen
* Buffalo Bill
* Curt Gowdy
* Hynds Lodge
* Edness K. Wilkins
* Glendo
* Guernsey
* Hawk Springs
* Hot Springs
* Keyhole
* Seminoe
* Sinks Canyon

|

State Historical Sites|

* Ames Monument
* Connor Battlefield
* Fort Bridger
* Fort Fetterman
* Fort Fred Steele
* Fort Phil Kearny
* Governors' Mansion
* Granger Stage Station
* Independence Rock
* Legend Rock
* Medicine Lodge
* Names Hill
* Oregon Trail Ruts
* Piedmont Charcoal Kilns
* Pioneer Memorial Museum
* Point of Rocks Stage Station
* Quebec-One Missile Alert Facility
* Register Cliff
* South Pass City
* Territorial Prison
* Trail End

County|

| County Parks:|

* Ayres Natural Bridge

|

* Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites

* v
* t
* e

Protected areas of Montana

Federal|

| National parks|

* Glacier
* Yellowstone

|

National monuments|

* Little Bighorn Battlefield
* Pompeys Pillar (BLM)
* Upper Missouri River Breaks (BLM)

National battlefield|

* Big Hole

National historical parks
and historic sites|

* Grant–Kohrs Ranch NHS
* Nez Perce NHP

National historic and scenic trails|

* Lewis and Clark NHT
* Nez Perce NHT
* Continental Divide NST
* Pacific Northwest NST

National recreation area|

* Bighorn Canyon

National Wildlife Refuges|

* Benton Lake
* Black Coulee
* Bowdoin
* Charles M. Russell
* Creedman Coulee
* Grass Lake
* Hailstone
* Hewitt Lake
* Lake Mason
* Lake Thibadeau
* Lamesteer
* Lee Metcalf
* Lost Trail
* Medicine Lake
* Ninepipe
* Pablo
* Red Rock Lakes
* Swan River
* UL Bend
* War Horse

National Forests|

* Beaverhead–Deerlodge
* Bitterroot
* Custer
* Flathead
* Gallatin
* Helena
* Kootenai
* Lewis and Clark
* Lolo

National Wilderness|

* Absaroka–Beartooth
* Anaconda–Pintler
* Bear Trap Canyon
* Bob Marshall
* Cabinet Mountains
* Gates of the Mountains
* Great Bear
* Lee Metcalf
* Medicine Lake
* Mission Mountains
* Rattlesnake
* Red Rock Lakes
* Scapegoat
* Selway–Bitterroot
* UL Bend
* Welcome Creek

National wild and scenic rivers|

* East Rosebud Creek
* Flathead
* Missouri

State|

| State parks|

* Ackley Lake
* Anaconda Smoke Stack
* Bannack
* Beaverhead Rock
* Beavertail Hill
* Big Arm
* Black Sandy
* Brush Lake
* Chief Plenty Coups
* Clark's Lookout
* Cooney
* Council Grove
* Elkhorn
* Finley
* Fish Creek
* First Peoples Buffalo Jump
* Fort Owen
* Frenchtown Pond
* Giant Springs
* Granite Ghost Town
* Greycliff Prairie Dog Town
* Hell Creek
* Lake Elmo
* Lake Mary Ronan
* Les Mason
* Lewis and Clark Caverns
* Logan
* Lone Pine
* Lost Creek
* Madison Buffalo Jump
* Makoshika
* Medicine Rocks
* Milltown
* Missouri Headwaters
* Painted Rocks
* Parker Homestead
* Pictograph Cave
* Pirogue Island
* Placid Lake
* Rosebud Battlefield
* Salmon Lake
* Sluice Boxes
* Smith River
* Somers Beach
* Spring Meadow Lake
* Thompson Falls
* Tongue River Reservoir
* Tower Rock
* Travelers' Rest
* Wayfarers
* West Shore
* Whitefish Lake
* Wild Horse Island
* Yellow Bay

|

State forests|

* Clearwater
* Coal Creek
* Lincoln
* Lubrecht Experimental
* Stillwater
* Sula
* Swan River
* Thompson River

Wildlife
Management
Areas|

* Amelia Island
* Aunt Molly
* Badlands
* Beartooth
* Beckman
* Big Lake
* Blackfoot-Clearwater
* Blackleaf
* Blue Eyed Nellie
* Bowdoin
* Buffalo Head Park
* Bull River
* Calf Creek
* Canyon Creek
* Canyon Ferry
* Dodson Creek
* Dodson Dam
* Dome Mountain
* Ear Mountain
* Elk Island
* F Island
* Flathead Lake
* Flathead River
* Fleecer Mountain
* Fox Lake
* Freezout Lake
* Fresno Reservoir
* Fresno Tailwater
* Gallatin
* Garrity Mountain
* Grant Marsh
* Gravelly-Blacktail
* Haymaker
* Hinsdale
* Horseshoe Lake
* Howard Valley
* Isaac Homestead
* Judith River
* Kootenai/Falls
* Kootenai/West
* Kootenai/Woods Ranch
* Lake Helena
* Lost Creek
* Lower Stillwater Lake
* Madison-Bear Creek
* Madison-Wall Creek
* Milk River
* Mount Haggin
* Mount Jumbo
* Mount Silcox
* Nevada Lake
* Ninepipe
* North Swan Valley CE
* Pablo
* Ray Kuhns
* Robb-Ledford
* Rookery
* Roundhom
* Sanders
* Seven Sisters
* Silver Gate
* Silver Run
* Smith River
* Sun River
* Swan Lake
* Thompson-Fisher CE
* Three Mile
* Threemile
* Vandalia
* War Dance Island
* Warm Springs

Other|

| Nonprofit|

* American Prairie

|

Tribal|

* CSKT Bison Range

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template