Bighorn Mountains
Bighorn Mountains are a rugged subrange of the northern Rockies, crossing northeastern Wyoming and southern Montana. Known for high alpine passes, glacial lakes, and the protected lands of Bighorn National Forest and Cloud Peak Wilderness, they offer opportunities for backcountry hiking, mountain driving, and wildlife viewing.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Rocky Mountain System |
| Subregion | Northern Rockies |
| Country | United States |
| State | WyomingMontana |
| County | Big Horn County (WY)Sheridan County (WY)Carbon County (MT)Park County (MT) |
| District | Bighorn National ForestCloud Peak Wilderness |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 44.25 |
| Longitude | -107 |
| Maps |
7:14 PM LOCAL TIMEThe Bighorn Mountains carve a rugged, relatively isolated ridge across northeastern Wyoming and south-central Montana, serving as a natural divide between watersheds that feed into the Missouri and Yellowstone basins. Their highest peaks—most notably Cloud Peak at nearly 13,200 feet (4030 m)—stand above a landscape of sharp ridges, carved valleys, and alpine tarns. The range is largely protected within Bighorn National Forest and the Cloud Peak Wilderness, where visitors find linked network of trails, steep off-trail terrain, and seasonal access depending on snowpack. Key passes, such as Sheridan Pass and Tucker Pass, connect different valleys and are popular routes for overland drive and horseback. The mountains support a variety of wildlife species—including elk, mule deer, black bear, and peripheral populations of gray wolf—and host significant spring and fall migrations. Beyond trailheads, the range remains a destination for seasonal mountaineering, large-animal viewing, and remote camping* across exposed plates and forested slopes.
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