Post updated July 28, 2020
Bighorn Canyon is another area I give a 4-paw rating to. The park’s pet page is very short and to the point. Pets must be leashed, clean up after them, be thoughtful to other visitors and they can’t be on the swim beach. I believe they mean both swim beaches, Ok-A-Beh and Horseshoe Bend. Other than those restrictions, dogs can be with you everywhere else. There are 15 designated trails, most of them not very long. Some of the trails are more of an unmarked walk through areas of natural or human disturbance which nature is reclaiming. A hiking trail PDF is available online.
By land or by boat
Bighorn Canyon is not only split between two states, Wyoming and Montana, but also split into north and south land accesses. By land, the south is accessed from Highway 37 just north of Lovell, WY. The north is accessed from highway 313 near Fort Smith, MT.
For landlubbers, the southern portion of the park, simply put, has more stuff. Twelve trails and three campgrounds as well as the Pryor Mountain wild horse range. Since we were traveling by land we stayed in the south portion. Wild horses greeted us on the road shortly after we entered the park. The herd is approximately 120-140 horses. Once we reached our campground we were met by another large mammal of the park, the bighorn sheep. A black bear had also been spotted in the area but we never saw it.
If you have the means to travel by boat you can directly travel from one end of the park to the other. In fact, of the 5 campgrounds, 2 are accessible only by boat. The north is more boat-centric. There is only one short road to drive with 3 hiking trails and 2 campgrounds, one for land vehicles and one for boats.
Medicine Wheel hike
The Bighorn National Forest is nearby along Highway 14A in Wyoming. National Forests are for the most part dog friendly and this one is no different. The Bighorn Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark is a popular hike in the area. The wheel sits atop a hill at almost 10,000 feet and is about a 2 mile walk from the parking area. Dogs are welcome to walk with you up to the wheel but they are not allowed to walk around the medicine wheel. This is a sacred site where Native American ceremonies are still performed.
Porcupine Falls
Another dog friendly hike in Bighorn National Forest is the descent to Porcupine Falls. The trailhead is off Hwy. 14 to the north of Medicine Wheel. Fair warning the trail is only 0.8 miles round trip but descends 440 feet from the parking lot and consists of more than 90 stairs. Leashed pets are welcome.
Steep and curvy!
Be aware that Highway 14A between the recreation area and the national forest is a series of 10% grades. The road drops, or climbs depending on your direction, 3600 feet in 13 miles. Have confidence in your brakes especially if you are pulling a trailer like we do.
