Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Bighorn Canyon is a "national recreation area." This classification makes it more primitive than a national park. There are few trails, fewer trail markers, and hardly any people. Most who use the space boat on the river.

Parts of the canyon resemble the Grand. Bighorn Canyon is shorter--only 57 miles long--and much of it not even all that deep. But the Bighorn River, which was controversially dammed in 1966, cuts through mountains. So while some canyon cliffs are only 20 to 30 feet, others are over 2,000 feet. Animals in the area include bighorn sheep and wild horses.

After sleeping on Bald Mountain, I had a hearty omelet in Lovell, Wyoming then made my way to the canyon. I took in the view from Devil Canyon Overlook, the deepest point in the south end of the canyon, then caught a river boat out of Horseshoe Bend to explore the canyon from below.

The boat sailed 20 miles upriver past spectacular canyon walls. The canyon walls have witnessed humans throughout their approximately 10,000 year history in North America. The ride included at least five bighorn sheep sitings, in one instance two females and a playful lamb.

After the boat ride, I explored a few of the canyon's lookouts and trails, going as far as Barry's Landing, where the road ends. Then it was on to Powell, Wyoming to steel myself to tackle Yellowstone the next day.