Bighorn National Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bighorn National Forest |
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The Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark in the National Forest
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 Bighorn National Forest
Location in the United States
Bighorn National Forest
Location in Wyoming
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| Location | Sheridan, Big Horn, Johnson, and Washakie counties, Wyoming, USA |
| Nearest city | Sheridan, WY |
| Area | 1,107,571 acres (4,482.18 km2) |
| Established | February 22, 1897 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Bighorn National Forest |
The Bighorn National Forest is a huge forest in northern Wyoming, United States. It covers more than 1.1 million acres (4,500 square kilometers)! It was created way back in 1897. This makes it one of the oldest protected forest lands in the U.S.
The forest is located in the Bighorn Mountains. These mountains are separate from the main Rocky Mountains. The Bighorn National Forest stretches about 80 miles (129 km) from the Montana border.
The land here changes a lot. You can find lowlands with sagebrush and grass at about 5,000 feet (1,524 meters). Then, it goes all the way up to Cloud Peak. This is the highest point in the Bighorn Mountains at 13,189 feet (4,020 meters). Almost all of the forest is above 1,500 meters (4,921 feet). The forest gets its name from the Bighorn River. This river gets some of its water from streams in the forest. These streams are mostly fed by melting snow and rain.
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Exploring the Bighorn National Forest
The Bighorn National Forest is a great place for outdoor adventures.
Cloud Peak Wilderness Area
Inside the forest, you'll find the Cloud Peak Wilderness area. This is a special place where no motorized vehicles or machines are allowed. You can only explore its 189,000 acres (765 square kilometers) by walking or riding a horse.
Trails and Campgrounds
The forest has over 1,500 miles (2,414 km) of trails. These trails are perfect for hiking and exploring. There are also 32 improved campgrounds. You can also find lodges to stay in.
Scenic Drives Through the Forest
Three beautiful roads, called scenic byways, cross the forest.
- U.S. Route 14 in Wyoming is known as the Bighorn Scenic Byway. It goes right through the middle of the forest.
- The Medicine Wheel Passage (U.S. Highway 14A) is in the northern part. It passes by the amazing Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark.
- The Cloud Peak Skyway (U.S. Route 16) crosses the highest pass in the forest. This is Powder River Pass, at 9,677 feet (2,949 meters). It's in the southern part of the forest.
Where to Find Help and Information
The main office for the forest is in Sheridan, Wyoming. You can also find local ranger offices in Buffalo, Greybull, and Sheridan. Visitor centers are located at Burgess Junction and near Shell Falls. Burgess Junction also has a ranger station, places to stay, and campgrounds. It's about 25 miles (40 km) from Dayton.
History of the Bighorn National Forest
The Bighorn National Forest was first created on February 22, 1897. It was called the Big Horn National Forest back then. It covered about 1,198,080 acres. On July 1, 1908, its name was officially changed to the Bighorn National Forest. This change happened through an executive order. By September 1981, the forest had 1,115,171 acres. Most of this land, 1,107,670 acres, was official National Forest land.
Weather in the Bighorns
The Bighorn National Forest has a subarctic climate. This means it has long, cold winters and short, cool summers. It gets a lot of snow and rain, especially in the higher parts.
Animals and Nature in the Bighorns
The Bighorn National Forest is full of nature. It has many forests, along with open alpine meadows and clear lakes at higher elevations.
Trees and Plants
The main trees you'll see are lodgepole pine. There are also different kinds of spruce, fir, and aspen trees.
Wildlife in the Forest
You can find many large mammals here. These include black bears, cougars, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and moose. Coyotes also live in this forest. While grizzly bears were gone for a while, they have started to return to the area in recent years.
Lakes and Fish
Many lakes are found throughout the forest. Most of these lakes naturally have trout and at least 100 other types of fish. Meadowlark Lake is a popular spot for fun. It was created in 1936 by a dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Scientists have studied the water in these lakes. They found that the Bighorn Mountains get more acid rain than any other mountain range in the Rockies.
Images for kids
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Men working on the Dayton-Kane road over the mountains in the 1920s
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Sage Grouse in Bighorn National Forest
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A moose cow and her calf near the Shell Ranger Station
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A northern flicker in a tree
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Wildflowers blooming in the short high altitude summer
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