Bighorn Canyon

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, which straddles the border between Wyoming and Montana, was created following the construction of the Yellowtail Dam in the 1960s by the Bureau of Reclamation. The dam, named after the famous Crow leader Robert Yellowtail--who fought against its construction--harnesses the waters of the Bighorn River, 55 miles of which lie within the national recreation area. About one third of the park unit is located on the Crow Indian Reservation. Nearly one-quarter of the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range is also protected within the recreation area. Bighorn Canyon provides a number of recreational opportunities including boating, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife watching.