Hiking In the Bighorns

The Bighorn Mountains, between Sheridan and Buffalo, Wyoming offer beautiful trails for hikers of all ages and abilities. The three most accessible trails go into magnificent canyons carved by steep, snow fed streams. During spring, the mountain runoff can be strong enough to move boulders. The sounds of rushing water reverberates all year to add an extra layer of magic to canyons walled by steep dolomite cliffs rising several hundred feet on each side.

Most hikers start with Penrose, the longest and most popular trail out of Story, a beautiful village 20 miles south of Sheridan. This trail can accommodate everyone from beginners to backpackers planning several days of camping in the Cloud Peak Wilderness. After the first switchback, around a quarter mile up, you will be in several miles of easily negotiable trail with panoramic views of the Powder River Basin below. You can treat this trail as a short gorgeous walk or a long serious hike.

Story has another short but dramatic trail up South Piney Creek. It begins at the Fish Hatchery around which many tourists love to stop and walk, goes past Thorne Rider Youth Camp, and up the canyon. Enjoyed by both hikers and anglers, this trail continues for two majestic miles and is closed to motorized vehicles. In that short stretch, as in most Bighorn canyons, you will also move through almost two billion years of geologic history ending in pink granite near the top.

Hikers and walkers out of Buffalo, thirty five miles south of Sheridan, enjoy driving a bit further south to Crazy Woman Canyon. A major part of this canyon experience is the beautiful drive to reach it. The canyon is short and open to both hikers and motorized vehicles. Crazy Woman is narrow and places you in close contact with creek and canyon walls. The best approach is to park your car at the foot and trek up as far as comfort allows. Afterwards you can return to your vehicle and drive up to join Highway 16, where you can stop at any point for more walking and scenic viewing or you might choose to head further west and stop at the Bighorn Mountain Resort which offers some of the best trails in the State of Wyoming.