Aug 30: The Bighorns

Wyoming 3 Minutes

Sometimes, we like to leave the comforts of our home on wheels and take our tent into a wilderness area. These are places we cannot access with the fifth wheel (or are not comfortable doing so!). Two weeks at an RV park in Sheridan, Wyoming gave us plenty of time to use our tent and explore the Bighorn Mountains, a spur range of the Rocky Mountains. Along Highways 14 and 16, we spent two nights in the tent, visited the Bighorn Medicine Wheel and the little town of Ten Sleep, and did some hiking, photographing and fishing. Enjoy this photo tour of our experience in this beautiful northwestern portion of Wyoming.

Red arrow indicates Peter D’s RV Park where we parked the RV for two weeks in Sheridan off Interstate 90. #1 indicates Prune Creek campground where we tent camped one night and drove to Medicine Wheel (marked X) on Highway 14 (& alt 14). #2 indicates Tie Hack campground where we tent camped one night and drove to Ten Sleep on Highway 16.
Bighorn Sheep were native to the Big Horn Mountains but overtime disappeared from human activity, livestock and disease. They have since been reintroduced. This is from Tensleep Canyon on the western edge of the mountains.
Our introduction to the Big Horn Mountains along alternate Highway 14, on our way to Medicine Wheel.
Shortly after the moose, we continued driving west toward the rainbow.
The North Tongue River runs along Alt Highway 14 for several miles. It is here where moose can be seen grazing in the willows. I was able to capture these two males from my truck parked along the highway.

Our first morning in the Bighorn Mountains was spent driving west along Highway 14 and alternate Highway 14 to the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark. The landmark is a significant Native American sacred property and to this day, used by many different tribes. Enjoy this slideshow of the Medicine Wheel area.

  • To see the Medicine Wheel requires a 3-mile round trip hike at an elevation of 9,640 ft.
  • The Medicine Wheel is located on a prominent ridge of Medicine Mountain, as seen here along the trail.
  • The Medicine Wheel is a circular pattern of stones on an exposed surface of the ridge.
  • The circle of stones are 82 ft in diameter surrounding a central stone cairn.
  • The wheel is located at the top of the ridge.

After the Medicine Wheel hike, we set up camp on Prune Creek, along Highway 14. Check out this beautiful setting where we watched moose drinking from the creek.

  • Our home away from home for one night.
  • While drinking coffee in the morning, we spot a female moose at the creek (red arrow).
  • I got my long lens out and captured her as she warily walked further away.
  • Prune Creek from our campsite.

A week later, we grabbed the tent again and headed to Highway 16. We were able to set up camp at Tie Hack Campground early and then spend the next couple days hiking and fishing. Check out some of the beautiful scenery in the area.

  • Our Tie Hack campsite
  • A short hike & climb up from our Tie Hack campsite gave me this view.
  • Hiking trail in the Cloud Peak wilderness area of the Bighorns.
  • The rocky terrain of Cloud Peak.
  • We hiked to this alpine lake in Cloud Peak Wilderness
  • You never know what animals you’ll come across in the Bighorns.
  • North Tongue River
  • Prune Creek near Sibley Lake
  • Sibley Lake
  • Another view of Sibley Lake
We also drove to Ten Sleep for lunch. Dirty Sally’s is the only grocery store in town, but they have ice cream! By the way, ‘Ten Sleep’ is a Native American method of measuring distance.

On another day, we checked out Tongue Canyon for a little hiking and to see the bat cave. To access it, we drove a couple miles down a very narrow gravel road that winds through the canyon, west of the town of Dayton (not far from Sheridan).

  • A view from the Tongue Canyon parking area.
  • The bat cave, closed off to humans.
  • Tongue River

One last thing, during our long stay, we also drove 70 miles north to Montana to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Check it out, wild horses and all.

  • Headstones indicate where a soldier died and was buried. The dark faced stone is where Custer died.
  • Battlefield Road leads you through the battlefields.
  • The remains of 220 soldiers, civilians and scouts are buried around this memorial.
  • Marble headstones mark where Indians were killed in battle.
  • Along Battlefield Road, we came across this large herd of horses.
  • Custer National Cemetery near the visitor center.
Until next time, cheers!

RV TIPs

Whether you are hooked up to city water or using the fresh water tank, you need a water hose. The best hose we have ever used is the Camco EvoFlex 25-Foot Drinking Water Hose. I highly recommend it! It is drinking water safe and extra flexible, which is a wonderful thing when you are wrestling with the hose for storage. We carry two 25-footers – always good to have a spare.

Unknown's avatar

Published by Constance Mier

Published

3 thoughts on “Aug 30: The Bighorns”

  1. Constance and Vivian, Your January postings are fabulous.  To actually see the map and the great detail shows us exactly the routing and the hiking you have taken.  The story of the Bighorn Sheep is extremely interesting and your pictures are outstanding.  It is neat when you can see the moose up close.  Thank you for taking us up to Medicine Wheel.  We could not do anything like that, especially at 9,600 feet.  We like the pictures of 10 sheep.  We’ve been the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument.  It was a nice refresher course for us.  We remember seeing Custer National Cemetery and last, not least, we are taking your advice and buying a Camco Evoflex drinking water hose.  Thank you for your recommendation.

    Ann and Morrie Doy

    Like

    Reply

  2. Great post. As I’ve said before, we loved this entire area and your beautiful pictures take me right back to there. Love it!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment