Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Usual hours

• Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00

From 56 published days, 2026-10-25 to 2026-12-19; community-mapped.

About

Entrance / day-use fee applies.

This park's official page lists: Restrooms, Visitor center, Picnic areas.

This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.

At the park

• Visitor center exhibit
• Camping activity
• Wildlife & bird watching scenic feature
• Hiking trails trail
• Boating water

Events

• Lockhart Ranch Tour
• Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Birthday!
• Bats of the Canyon 03:00 PM–04:00 PM · The Cal S. Taggert Visitor Center is located within the city limits of Lovell, WY, along Route 14 A.
• Bighorn Canyon Book Club Discussion 03:00 PM–04:00 PM
• Winter is Coming: How Bighorn Canyon Prepares for Winter 06:00 PM–06:00 PM
• Dark Skies Photography Workshop 05:00 PM–07:00 PM

Before you go

Limits

Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go

⚠ Park closure: No Water Available at Ok-A-Beh Marina - Flushing Restrooms Closed

Due to a water shortage, flushable toilets are currently unavailable at the Ok-A-Beh Marina. Vault toilets are available at the upper parking lot and a floating restroom is available on the courtesy dock.

Getting there

Bighorn Canyon has two districts that are separated by a three hour drive. To get to the North District at Fort Smith, MT from Billings, take Interstate 90 south to Hardin, MT. Turn at exit 495 onto State Highway 313 to St. Xavier and then to Fort Smith, Montana. To get to the South District at Lovell, WY from Billings, MT, take Interstate 90 west. Turn at exit 434 at Laurel, MT. Turn onto US 310 East/US 212 South. Turn at US 310 East to Lovell. The visitor center is on the east side of Lovell.

Weather & when to go

North District: Semi-arid, receiving 18 to 20 inches of rain annually. South District: High-desert, receiving 6 to 10 inches of rain annually. Summer temperatures: Highs in the 80s (F) and 90s (F), lows in the 50s (F) and 60s (F). Summer temperatures can peak over 100 degrees. Winter temperatures: Range in the 20s and 30s with low temperatures averaging the 10s (F) and 20s (F). During the winter the thermometer can drop below 0 (F) with extreme wind chill factors.

Visitor center

Cal S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center (Lovell, WY)

Visitor center

Cal S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center (Lovell, WY)

Visitor center

Cal S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center (Lovell, WY)

Visitor center

Cal S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center (Lovell, WY) — The visitor center includes authentic historic exhibits about the ranches, Native American life and artifacts, as well as information about regional geology and geography, the river before the dam, and a large relief map of the park and surrounding areas. In addition to the bookstore, there is a… — The Cal S. Taggart Visitor Center is just east of Lovell, Wyoming, at the junction of US Highway 14A and US Route 310.

Visitor center

Horseshoe Bend Marina

Visitor center

Okabeh Marina on Bighorn Lake

Visitor center

Okabeh Marina on Bighorn Lake

Visitor center

Three Mile Access Trail

Facilities on the park map

4 bench, 2 defibrillator, 2 first aid kit, 7 picnic area, 24 restroom, 8 visitor information, 2 water fountain.

Where to stay

• Medicine Creek Campground Medicine Creek campground is a boat-in or hike-in only campground. It is approximately 3 miles north of Barry's Landing by land or water. - Open All Year - Lake level affects the proximity of the boat mooring to campsites · 5 campsites · Accessibility: This site is not accessible. There is usually not a dock in, so one must wade through water for boat in or hike 3 miles.
• Barry's Landing & Trail Creek Campground Barry's Landing & Trail Creek campgrounds are located on the south district near Barry's Landing, 27 miles north of Lovell, WY on HWY 37. - Open All Year - 14 RV sites, 16 tent sites - Most RV sites are small for a 28 ft RV or smaller - Vault toilets only, no running water or electricity · 30 campsites · Accessibility: ADA is limited. Paths and camp sites are gravel and level. Bathrooms are wheelchair accessible but do not have automatic openers.
• Dayboard 9 Campground This small boat in only campground is located at Dayboard 9, approximately 9 miles south of Okabeh Marina. During the summer season (Memorial Day - Labor Day) this location features a courtesy dock and floating comfort station. The primitive gravel campsites include picnic tables, bear boxes, and fire pits. · 5 campsites · Accessibility: Not accessible. Must be able to exit the boat onto a dock, then navigate a fairly steep and uneven hill to get to the campsites.
• Black Canyon Campground Black Canyon is a boat-in-only campground located five lake miles from the Ok-A-Beh boat ramp. Black Canyon occasionally closes due to aggressive bear activity as a result of receiving food rewards from campers. Check the "Alerts" page for any closures within the park. And remember, Do Not feed or approach any wildlife. - Open All Year - Docks in seasonally (Memorial Day - Labor Day) - 17 tent sit · 17 campsites · Accessibility: This site is a boat in only site and is not very accessible. The dock system ramp to the campground can be difficult to navigate. The campsites are primitive…
• Horseshoe Bend Campground - Located near Lovell, WY - Open All Year - All sites include fire pit and picnic table. - 68 RV and tent sites - 28 sites have water and electrical hook-ups. Water is only guaranteed at these sites Memorial Day to Labor Day, but may remain on, weather dependent. Electricity remains on year-round. - 3 pull through sites - Modern Restrooms, RV dump station and drinking water are available - Horsesh · 68 campsites · Accessibility: ADA is limited. Paths and camp sites are gravel and level. Bathrooms are wheelchair accessible but do not have automatic openers.
• Afterbay Campground - Near Fort Smith, Montana - Open All Year - 22 RV and tent sites are located on the south shore of Afterbay lake - All sites have fire rings and picnic tables - Composting vault toilets - All sites are back in (not pull through) - All sites have electric and water - RV dump station available across the road near the Headquarters building · 22 campsites · Accessibility: All sites are handicapped accessible. Mens and Womens pit toilets are handicapped accessible.
• Grapevine Campground - Near Fort Smith, Montana - Open All Year! - 14 RV and tent sites are located on the north shore of Afterbay lake - RV sites are back in (not pull through) - All sites are handicapped accessible, have fire rings, and picnic tables - Vault toilets are accessible - There are no RV hookups - Trash cans available seasonally (May-Oct) - RV dump station and drinking water available across Afterbay lake · 14 campsites · Accessibility: This is a gravel campground. All sites are accessible. Men's and women's toilets are accessible.

History

Opened

1966

• Park opened