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Bighorn National Forest |
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Find a Forest (NF)
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About UsNo region in Wyoming is provided with a more diverse landscape than the Big Horn Mountains; from lush grasslands to alpine meadows, and rugged mountaintops to canyonlands and desert. GORGEOUS CANYON COUNTRY is a hallmark of the Forest. These canyons were formed by thrust faults on both the east and west flanks and millions of years of erosion. Shell, Tensleep and Crazy Woman Canyons are among those that can be enjoyed from your car window. Others, like Tongue and Devil's Canyon are better viewed on foot. GEOLOGY is noteworthy on the Big Horns. Watch for highway signs that trace the geologic history of this region as you travel the major highways. One of our many treasures is an abundance of large MOUNTAIN MEADOWS. These natural openings, caused by soil type and moisture levels, favor grasses and wildflowers rather than trees. Imagine acre upon acre of yellows, blues, purples, pinks and reds splashed upon the landscape in changing patterns and hues. Interspersed with mountain meadows are large patches of cool EVERGREEN FOREST extending from just above the foothills to the timber line. Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir populate the lower slopes with lodgepole pine, subalpine fir and Englemann spruce at the higher elevations. Open landscapes make for great WILDLIFE VIEWING as well. Watch for moose munching on a tasty bite of willow streamside or a family of mule deer bounding away, then stopping to look back with large ears raised and listening. HISTORY BUFFS come to this region to explore the land that once felt the footsteps of legendary giants like Jim Bridger, Lewis and Clark, Red Cloud, Plenty Coups and Buffalo Bill. This area was highly valued by tribes like the Crow, Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe. Some of the most famous battles between the Native American Indians and the US military were waged at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains or in close proximity.
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USDA Forest Service, Bighorn National Forest |