Photo: Jonathan WeldeBighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is unique among national park sites as it spans two states with two completely separate districts connected by a three-hour drive through the Crow Nation. The park preserves dramatic limestone canyons carved by the Bighorn River over millions of years, now filled by 71-mile-long Bighorn Lake created by Yellowtail Dam. Families discover one of America's most remote wild horse herds in the Pryor Mountains, along with historic ranches like the Ewing-Snell homestead where kids can explore a one-room log schoolhouse. The park's isolation and dual-district layout create an adventurous exploration experience unlike any other park unit.
Junior Ranger Program at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
The Junior Ranger program at Bighorn Canyon focuses on water conservation, wildlife protection, and Native American heritage of the Crow Nation. Kids complete activities about bighorn sheep, wild horses, and the canyon's geology while earning their badge through hands-on exploration and ranger-led programs.
- Spot wild horses roaming the canyon rim
- Learn about bighorn sheep habitat and behavior
- Explore Native American history of the Crow people
Program Details
Download Junior Ranger Booklet
Get a head start! Download and print the booklet before your visit.
Source: NPS Junior Ranger Program Page
Best Ages for Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Ages 6–9
Kids in this age group complete four activities from the booklet, making it manageable for shorter attention spans. The Bighorn Bingo and scavenger hunt work particularly well as they encourage exploring the visitor center exhibits and watching park movies for answers. The word search and Yellowtail Dam crossword puzzle provide quieter activities perfect for rest breaks during your visit.
Ages 10–12
Older kids complete five activities instead of four, with the journal page being especially meaningful for this age group's deeper thinking. They typically enjoy the historic site postcard activity, which encourages visiting actual ranch sites like Ewing-Snell or exploring the Bighorn Headgate remains. The Bighorn River maze tells the fascinating story of mountain man Jim Bridger's dangerous 1825 river journey through the canyon.
Ages 13+
While the booklet targets ages 6-12, teens and adults often find the historical content engaging, especially learning about the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range and Native American heritage. The scavenger hunt questions about raptors and bighorn sheep features lead to interesting wildlife discussions. Many families work on the activities together, making it a shared learning experience across age groups.
Planning Your Visit
Getting There
The park has two separate districts requiring different approaches—drive to Fort Smith, Montana for the North District via Hardin, or to Lovell, Wyoming for the South District. No entrance fees make this an accessible stop, but check that visitor centers are open as the Fort Smith location only operates Memorial Day through Labor Day. Plan your route carefully as the districts are three hours apart by car.
Van & RV Notes
Afterbay Campground offers the most van-friendly sites with level parking and restrooms, perfect for our 22-foot Sprinter. The area provides good cell reception and easy access to boat launches and hiking trails. Dry camping is the norm here, so come prepared with full water tanks and gray/black tank capacity for longer stays.
Best Time to Visit
Late May through September offers the warmest weather for water activities and comfortable hiking, though summer temperatures can exceed 100°F. Spring and fall provide cooler hiking conditions but limit water activities—the lake typically doesn't warm up for swimming until mid-summer. Winter visits are possible but challenging, with the Fort Smith visitor center closed and limited services available.
How Long to Spend
Plan a full day for each district you visit, as the travel time between them makes same-day visits impractical. Most families spend 2-3 days total if exploring both districts, allowing time for boating, hiking Devil Canyon Overlook, and visiting historic ranch sites.
Don't Miss
Devil Canyon Overlook provides the park's most iconic view—a dramatic 1,000-foot drop into the canyon where families can spot wildlife trails and search for birds of prey. The floating restrooms scattered across Bighorn Lake are uniquely memorable, showing how the park balances recreation with environmental protection in ways kids find fascinating.
Fun Facts for Kids
The Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range was the first wild horse range established in the United States, protecting 150-200 horses descended from Spanish explorers' mounts
Yellowtail Dam creates a 71-mile-long lake that's so narrow in places you can practically throw a rock across it, yet it's over 300 feet deep
Jim Bridger became the first person to navigate the Bighorn River through the canyon in 1825, lashing together a makeshift raft and surviving three days of dangerous rapids
The green color of Bighorn Lake comes from algae in the water, not pollution—it's actually a sign of a healthy aquatic ecosystem
Plan Your Stay
Save on park entry with the America the Beautiful Pass — $80 for unlimited access to all 400+ National Park sites for a full year.
Where to Stay
Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Parks to Earn More Badges
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument preserves the site of Custer's Last Stand just 43 miles away, offering powerful lessons about the complex history between Native Americans and the U.S. Army.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument
Pompeys Pillar National Monument features the only remaining physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark Expedition—William Clark's signature carved into a sandstone pillar along the Yellowstone River.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park lies about 90 minutes south, making Bighorn Canyon a perfect quieter alternative for families seeking dramatic landscapes without Yellowstone's summer crowds.
See all Junior Ranger badges
Track your family's progress across every National Park Service site
View Badge Tracker