The Bighorn Mountains are one of the best-kept secrets in the American West. Perfectly situated right between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Parks, the Bighorns remain a safe haven for those looking to avoid the crowds and experience the majesty of the mountain wilderness.
It’s not just the remote location, stunning views, and world-class outdoor recreation that make the area so special. The Bighorn Mountains have a rich and unique human and geological history that helps make this place the awe-inspiring destination that it is today.
In this article, we’ll teach you a bit of that fascinating history, and get you ready for your next big adventure here in Wyoming!
Located in north central Wyoming, and partly into Montana, the impressive Bighorn Range towers above the expansive Wyoming prairie. As soon as you drive your car up the steep mountain side you’ll quickly find yourself in a whole new world of incredible wildlife, stunning forests, and all manner of natural beauty.
Extending for an impressive 200 miles out of the Rocky Mountain Range, the Bighorns began life roughly 70 million years ago. Over millions of years, layer upon layer of fossil-rich sedimentary rock stacked on top of each other creating the mountains that we see today.
In later years intense erosion carved deep canyons into the mountain range and exposed some of the oldest rock that can be seen anywhere on planet Earth! In the Bighorns you can find Precambrian rock formations that are 3.25 BILLION years old. Just on your drive up from the local town of Sheridan, you’ll find exposed rock going back millions of years right off the highway.
Speaking of erosion, the last ice age (which ended about 10,000 years ago) was an exciting time for the Bighorns! The high-altitude peaks were a hotbed for glacial activity. In fact, there’s still an active glacier remaining from the last ice age!
It’s thanks to all of these ancient glaciers that we have so many gorgeous canyons and scenic mountain lakes to explore today.
The Bighorn Mountains have been home to a multitude of cultures for thousands of years. Scholars believe that ancient ancestors of the Shoshone likely dominated the area for a very long period of time. In fact, scientists have discovered remnants of human activity dating back 6,500 years ago. That’s roughly 2,000 years before the oldest standing ancient Egyptian pyramids!
Scientists discovered these ancient Bighorn settlements by finding evidence of human made campfires located in the same area as the incredible Medicine Wheel, one of the most spectacular archeological discoveries of the American West.
While not much is known about ancient human societies in North America, it is clear that human groups found their way to the Bighorn Mountains, probably following large herd animals. The region was likely home to a vast array of cultures for thousands of years long before European colonization.
By the early 1700s the Bighorns were populated by the Shoshone and the Apsáalooke. (Apsáalooke translated to “Children of the Large Beaked Bird” which later became “Crow” in English.)
It’s the Apsáalooke people that we can thank for the name of the mountain range.
Originally they named the Bighorn River, most likely after the bighorn sheep that are abundant in the area. According to the Legend of Big Metal the canyon, river, and lake must forever bear the name “Bighorn” or the Aspáalooke people will be no more.
When Lewis and Clark made their way through the Bighorn River area, they learned the name of the river from the local people and then declared the mountain range the Bighorns on their official survey of the land.
After moving into the Bighorns, the Apsáalooke found themselves surrounded by enemies and were engaged in constant warfare to defend their new land. You see, the Bighorns were valuable hunting grounds often used by a number of powerful tribes like the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Lakota.
As tensions rose between the two factions, the Aspáalooke and Shoshone allied themselves with the US Government and participated in famous battles such as The Battle of Little Bighorn. The events of this period ultimately led to the Wind River and Crow Indian Reservations in the late 1800s. (This is of course an oversimplified version of a complex situation that still impacts many people today.)
By the late 1800s the railroad had come to northern Wyoming and logging camps were established in the Bighorn Mountains in order to produce railroad ties.
Around the same time period however, the US federal government recognized the Bighorn region's exceptional natural beauty and its importance for preserving wildlife. In order to protect the region from development and resource extraction President Grover Cleveland passed legislation that placed the forest under federal protection.
Ever since then, the Bighorns have been a hotbed for outdoor recreation and attracted visitors from around the world.
Today the Bighorn National Forest is 192,000 acres of pristine wilderness with 1,200 miles of trail for visitors to enjoy. This remarkably remote area provides a haven for all types of outdoor recreation. World class snowmobiling, phenomenal fishing conditions, gorgeous hiking trails, wildlife viewing, miles upon miles of unbelievable ORV trails and so much more can all be enjoyed in the Bighorn Mountains. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing opportunity to destress and reconnect with nature or a high-octane adventure, the Bighorn Mountains is the place for you.
Now that you know your history, you’re ready to visit us in the Bighorns! Bear Lodge Resort is located right in the heart of the national forest providing you with a front row seat to all this incredible area has to offer!
Whether you’re looking for a cozy hotel room, a private mountain cabin, or for a spot to camp Bear Lodge is here to help! And whenever you’re hungry you can stop by our bar and restaurant to fuel up for your next adventure!
