Bighorn Lake

Bighorn Lake is a grand yet lightly visited water body that traverses over 70 miles between Northern Wyoming and Southern Montana.  Impounded by the imposing Yellowtail Dam, most of the reservoir is confined by the steep to vertical walls of the Bighorn River Canyon as it slices through the Bighorn Mountain Range.  Although the original river is irreversibly altered by the drowning of the canyon, the current setting remains quite spectacular and exciting exploration via paddleboard, canoe or kayak.  

☆ Strait at Crooked Creek

☆ Narrow Side Canyon

Despite its immense size, there are only a handful of locations where the lake can be easily accessed by motor vehicle.   Two of those places are featured in this post.  Crooked Creek Bay and Barry's Landing are both accessed from WY Hwy. 37, just east of Lovell, WY on U.S. Route 14A.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]:

    Scenery: 5
    Shoreline Interest: 3-5
    Use: Low-moderate
    Fee: None
    Access: Paved
    Full elev = 3640; 

    Water level
    Rec info 
    Rec map 

    Weather (Barrys Landing) 

    Weather (Crooked Creek)

General Vicinity: Away from interstate highways, this areas is off of many travelers' radar.  However, it can make for a nice midway diversion on treks to Yellowstone or Montana with a moderate detour.  The nearest town to this part of Bighorn Lake is Lovell, WY, which offers gasoline, food, lodging and other travel amenities.  When travelling here, be sure to follow U.S. Route 14A (Alternate), which splits from U.S. 14 proper atop the Bighorn Mountain Range between Interstate 25 and Lovell.  Also be aware that U.S. 14A descends several miles of road grades in the teens (%) as it drops a vertical mile into the Bighorn Basin.  Take it slow and gear down.  There is not an improved roadway connection between the southern part of the lake and the northern part near the dam, accessed through Fort Smith, MT.  

Crooked Creek Bay

Eastern Crooked Creek Bay

Crooked Creek Area - Access and Features:  The backwater of Bighorn Lake into the Crooked Creek tributary forms a mile-long bay that makes a great paddleboard spot.  The access point is a large gravel pull-out on Hwy 37 before it climbs north out of the valley.  The main, western bay spreads out across a scenic valley between colorful hillsides.  Farther east, the inlet zigzags and the canyon walls steepen into a dramatic, vertical-walled strait at the confluence with the Bighorn River.  

The lake can also be accessed at the Horseshoe Bend Marina, but for hand launched craft, Crooked Creek is more scenic, less visited and worth the extra road mile.  Be conscientious of wind strength as direction here--particularly a westerly wind, as conditions can be variable in the bay and there is no easy way back to the launch point if it becomes too difficult to paddle upwind.  There is developed campground on the open mesa above Horseshoe Bend but there are few trees to shield sun and wind.  

Crooked Creek Area

Barry's Landing Area

Barry's Landing Area - Access and Features:  Barry's Landing is a formal boat ramp that is carved into the canyon wall in a mid-canyon area where topography is more moderate than north or south.  It is also the only vehicle-accessible launch point between Crooked Creek and the far north part of the lake.  The only paved access to this point is from State highway 37, 14 miles past Crooked Creek.  En-route, the road climbs and descends 1000 vertical feet over a rise that the Bighorn River spectacularly slices through at Devil Canyon Overlook.  

☆ Side Canyon

Main Channel

The Barry's landing area features a number of narrow side canyons that vary in length and personality.  They are close enough to each other that multiple can be explored in a day.  They are also well-protected from wind and waves and feature pleasant, calm waters.  There may an occasional wake in the main channel from motorized boats but traffic is light and it's fairly easy to be seen.  The main channel also has day board markers to assist in navigation along with the recreational map.  A small campground offers shady sites just above Barry's Landing. 

Conditions and Safety Considerations:  Due to the setting in a canyon, the paddling here is good at a wide range of water levels.  The reservoir does not seem to be subject to the prolonged water shortages that plague Lakes Mead and Powell by keeping the water level perennially below full pool.  Prudent safety and preparation measures are of added importance here due to the remote location and scarcity of assistance.  Be especially mindful of the weather forecast and text discussion to understand when winds might pick up or thunderstorm may roll in.  Most places in the canyon do not provide an open view of approaching weather.  There are also  segments of the main canyon that are flanked by cliffs and do not offer places to get off the water in an emergency.  Be sure to review and abide by Wyoming and Montana boating regulations as appropriate for your vessels.  

Main Channel

☆ Side Canyon

Obviously, Bighorn Lake is outside the boundaries of Colorado and off the beaten path for many.  But as a remote destination or an intermediate travel diversion, there is a lot here to explore with sparse company.  Wherever your journeys take you, have fun and stay safe!