Bighorn National Forest: Difference between revisions

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| governing_body = [[United States Forest Service|U.S. Forest Service]]
| governing_body = [[United States Forest Service|U.S. Forest Service]]
| website = [http://www.fs.usda.gov/bighorn/ Bighorn National Forest]
| website = [http://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/bighorn Bighorn National Forest]
}}
}}


The '''Bighorn National Forest''' is a [[U.S. National Forest]] located in northern [[Wyoming]], [[United States]] and consists of over 1.1 million acres (4,500&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>). Created as a US [[Forest reserve|Forest Reserve]] in 1897, it is one of the oldest government-protected forest lands in the U.S. The forest is well east of the [[continental divide]] and extends from the [[Montana]] border for a distance of {{convert|80|mi|km}} along the spine of the [[Bighorn Mountains]], an outlying mountain range separated from the rest of the [[Rocky Mountains]] by [[Bighorn Basin]]. Elevations range from {{convert|5,000|ft|m}} along the [[sagebrush]] and grass-covered lowlands at the foot of the mountains, to {{convert|13,189|ft|m}} on top of [[Cloud Peak]], the highest point in the Bighorn Mountains. Around 99% of the land is above {{convert|1500|m|ft}}.<ref name = wohl2007>{{cite web|title = Assessment of Stream Ecosystem Function and Sensitivity in the Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming|last = wohl|first = Ellen|last2 = cooper|first2 = david|last3 = Poff|first3 = LeRoy|last4 = Rahel|first4 = Frank|last5 = Staley|first5 = Dennis|last6 = Winters|first6 = David|url = http://rydberg.biology.colostate.edu/poff/Public/poffpubs/Wohl_etal_2007_Bighorn_EM.pdf|access-date = 2012-10-21|archive-date = 2016-03-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073606/http://rydberg.biology.colostate.edu/poff/Public/poffpubs/Wohl_etal_2007_Bighorn_EM.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref> The forest is named after the [[Bighorn River]], which is partially fed by streams found in the forest. Streams in the range are fed primarily by [[snowmelt]] and snowmelt mixed with driving [[rainfall]].<ref name = wohl2007/>
The '''Bighorn National Forest''' is a [[U.S. National Forest]] located in northern [[Wyoming]], [[United States]] and consists of over 1.1 million acres (4,500&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>). Created as a US [[Forest reserve|Forest Reserve]] in 1897, it is one of the oldest government-protected forest lands in the U.S. The forest is well east of the [[continental divide]] and extends from the [[Montana]] border for a distance of {{convert|80|mi|km}} along the spine of the [[Bighorn Mountains]], an outlying mountain range separated from the rest of the [[Rocky Mountains]] by [[Bighorn Basin]]. Elevations range from {{convert|5,000|ft|m}} along the [[sagebrush]] and grass-covered lowlands at the foot of the mountains, to {{convert|13,189|ft|m}} on top of [[Cloud Peak]], the highest point in the Bighorn Mountains. Around 99% of the land is above {{convert|1500|m|ft}}.<ref name = wohl2007>{{cite web|title = Assessment of Stream Ecosystem Function and Sensitivity in the Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming|last = wohl|first = Ellen|last2 = cooper|first2 = david|last3 = Poff|first3 = LeRoy|last4 = Rahel|first4 = Frank|last5 = Staley|first5 = Dennis|last6 = Winters|first6 = David|url = http://rydberg.biology.colostate.edu/poff/Public/poffpubs/Wohl_etal_2007_Bighorn_EM.pdf|access-date = 2012-10-21|archive-date = 2016-03-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073606/http://rydberg.biology.colostate.edu/poff/Public/poffpubs/Wohl_etal_2007_Bighorn_EM.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref> The forest is named after the [[Bighorn River]], which is partially fed by streams found in the forest. Streams in the range are fed primarily by [[snowmelt]] and snowmelt mixed with driving [[rainfall]].<ref name = wohl2007/>


Within the forest is the [[Cloud Peak Wilderness]] area in which no motorized or mechanical equipment is allowed. The only access into the {{convert|189,000|acre|km2|abbr=on}} wilderness<ref>[http://www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/bighorn/specialplaces Forest Service]</ref> is on foot or [[horseback]]. There are {{convert|1,500|mi|km}} of [[trail]]s in the forest, along with 32 improved [[campground]]s, lodges, and three scenic vehicular byways. [[U.S. Route 14|U.S. Route 14 in Wyoming]], also known as the Bighorn Scenic Byway, crosses the middle of the {{convert|30|mi|km|adj=on}} wide forest. The Medicine Wheel Passage (U.S. Highway 14A) crosses in the north passing the [[Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark]], while the Cloud Peak Skyway ([[U.S. Route 16]]) crosses the highest pass in the forest (Powder River Pass {{convert|9,677|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x|/|}}) and is located in the southern section of the forest.
Within the forest is the [[Cloud Peak Wilderness]] area in which no motorized or mechanical equipment is allowed. The only access into the {{convert|189,000|acre|km2|abbr=on}} wilderness<ref>[http://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/bighorn Forest Service]</ref> is on foot or [[horseback]]. There are {{convert|1,500|mi|km}} of [[trail]]s in the forest, along with 32 improved [[campground]]s, lodges, and three scenic vehicular byways. [[U.S. Route 14|U.S. Route 14 in Wyoming]], also known as the Bighorn Scenic Byway, crosses the middle of the {{convert|30|mi|km|adj=on}} wide forest. The Medicine Wheel Passage (U.S. Highway 14A) crosses in the north passing the [[Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark]], while the Cloud Peak Skyway ([[U.S. Route 16]]) crosses the highest pass in the forest (Powder River Pass {{convert|9,677|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x|/|}}) and is located in the southern section of the forest.


The forest headquarters is located in [[Sheridan, Wyoming]]. There are local [[National Park Ranger|ranger]] district offices in [[Buffalo, Wyoming|Buffalo]], [[Greybull, Wyoming|Greybull]], and [[Sheridan, Wyoming|Sheridan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ufwda.org/pdfs/USDAForestServiceRangerDistricts.pdf |title=USFS Ranger Districts by State |access-date=2009-05-20 |archive-date=2012-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119235755/http://www.ufwda.org/pdfs/USDAForestServiceRangerDistricts.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Visitor centers are located at Burgess Junction and near [[Shell Falls]]. Burgess Junction, at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 14 in Wyoming|Route 14]] and [[U.S. Route 14A in Wyoming|Route 14A]] about 25 miles from [[Dayton, Wyoming|Dayton]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Burgess Junction Visitor Center|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/bighorn/recarea/?recid=30882|publisher=USDA Forest Service: Bighorn National Forest|access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> also has a ranger station, visitor accommodation, and campgrounds.
The forest headquarters is located in [[Sheridan, Wyoming]]. There are local [[National Park Ranger|ranger]] district offices in [[Buffalo, Wyoming|Buffalo]], [[Greybull, Wyoming|Greybull]], and [[Sheridan, Wyoming|Sheridan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ufwda.org/pdfs/USDAForestServiceRangerDistricts.pdf |title=USFS Ranger Districts by State |access-date=2009-05-20 |archive-date=2012-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119235755/http://www.ufwda.org/pdfs/USDAForestServiceRangerDistricts.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Visitor centers are located at Burgess Junction and near [[Shell Falls]]. Burgess Junction, at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 14 in Wyoming|Route 14]] and [[U.S. Route 14A in Wyoming|Route 14A]] about 25 miles from [[Dayton, Wyoming|Dayton]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Burgess Junction Visitor Center|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/bighorn/recreation|publisher=USDA Forest Service: Bighorn National Forest|access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> also has a ranger station, visitor accommodation, and campgrounds.


==History==
==History==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/bighorn/ Bighorn National Forest] - U.S. Forest Service
* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/bighorn Bighorn National Forest] - U.S. Forest Service


{{Protected areas of Wyoming}}
{{Protected areas of Wyoming}}

Latest revision as of 20:43, 28 June 2025

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The Bighorn National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in northern Wyoming, United States and consists of over 1.1 million acres (4,500 km2). Created as a US Forest Reserve in 1897, it is one of the oldest government-protected forest lands in the U.S. The forest is well east of the continental divide and extends from the Montana border for a distance of Script error: No such module "convert". along the spine of the Bighorn Mountains, an outlying mountain range separated from the rest of the Rocky Mountains by Bighorn Basin. Elevations range from Script error: No such module "convert". along the sagebrush and grass-covered lowlands at the foot of the mountains, to Script error: No such module "convert". on top of Cloud Peak, the highest point in the Bighorn Mountains. Around 99% of the land is above Script error: No such module "convert"..[1] The forest is named after the Bighorn River, which is partially fed by streams found in the forest. Streams in the range are fed primarily by snowmelt and snowmelt mixed with driving rainfall.[1]

Within the forest is the Cloud Peak Wilderness area in which no motorized or mechanical equipment is allowed. The only access into the Script error: No such module "convert". wilderness[2] is on foot or horseback. There are Script error: No such module "convert". of trails in the forest, along with 32 improved campgrounds, lodges, and three scenic vehicular byways. U.S. Route 14 in Wyoming, also known as the Bighorn Scenic Byway, crosses the middle of the Script error: No such module "convert". wide forest. The Medicine Wheel Passage (U.S. Highway 14A) crosses in the north passing the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark, while the Cloud Peak Skyway (U.S. Route 16) crosses the highest pass in the forest (Powder River Pass Script error: No such module "convert".) and is located in the southern section of the forest.

The forest headquarters is located in Sheridan, Wyoming. There are local ranger district offices in Buffalo, Greybull, and Sheridan.[3] Visitor centers are located at Burgess Junction and near Shell Falls. Burgess Junction, at the intersection of Route 14 and Route 14A about 25 miles from Dayton,[4] also has a ranger station, visitor accommodation, and campgrounds.

History

The Bighorn National Forest was established as the Big Horn National Forest on 22 February 1897, and encompasses 1,198,080 acres. On 1 July 1908 the name was changed to the Bighorn National Forest through an executive order. In September 1981 the national forest had 1,115,171 acres, with 1,107,670 of those acres being National Forest land.[5]

File:Dayton-Kane Road - Bighorn National Forest - 1920s.jpg
Men work on the Dayton-Kane road over the mountains in the 1920s

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, the Bighorn National Forest has a mostly subarctic climate, abbreviated "Dfc" on climate maps.

Script error: No such module "weather box".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Bald Mountain is a small peak on the northern plateau of the Bighorn Mountains. Script error: No such module "weather box".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The SNOTEL weather station, Bone Springs, is slightly north of Cedar Mountain. Script error: No such module "weather box".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Ecology and recreation

The Bighorn National Forest contains primarily forest along with alpine meadows and lakes at higher elevations. The forest is primarily lodgepole pine, along with several species of spruce, fir, and aspen. While grizzly bears have not inhabited the forest since the early 20th century, black bears are widespread. Grizzly bears have made a comeback in the decades. Other large mammals include cougars, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and moose. Coyotes are also present in this forest. Numerous lakes are found within the forest and most are naturally stocked with trout and at least 100 other fish species. Meadow Lark Lake is a popular recreation area created by the construction of a dam built by Company 841 of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936. Water quality sampling from the lakes shows the highest acid rain deposition of any mountain chain in the Rockies.

Gallery

See also

References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Forest Service
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Further reading

  • Georgen, Cynde (2010). In the Shadow of the Bighorns: A History of Early Sheridan and the Goose Creek Valley of Northern Wyoming. Sheridan, Wyoming: Sheridan County Historical Society. Template:ISBN.

External links

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