Explore the Forest!
The Bighorn National Forest has a diversity of ecosystems and recreational opportunities to explore. Check out some of the special places the Bighorns have to offer.
Shell Falls Wayside and Interpretive Site is currently closed for construction.
Take a virtual tour here and learn about Shell Canyon
Over the past million years, Shell Creek has incised a deep chasm through the sedimentary stone and ancient granite. The water of Shell Falls, dropping 120 feet at a rate of 3,600 gallons per second, follows fractures in the resistant granite. Shell Canyon is named for the shell fossils found in the sedimentary canyon walls.
Shell Falls Interpretive Site is located on U.S. Highway 14, 21 miles southwest of Burgess Junction, Wyoming. The site is closed in 2025 for construction.
Learn more through the Shell Falls Wayside Activity Fun Book and informational handouts:
English
Spanish
German
Japanese
English Interactive
Can Drops of Water Really Move a Mountain?
Bit by bit, the daily grind of water rippling over rock wears the mountain away. In a more dramatic fashion at Shell Falls, run-off from melting snow during May and June creates a massive force capable of muscling huge boulders downstream. Shell Falls has an average flow of 3,600 gallons per second.
The Making of a Canyon
2.5 billion years of geologic history lie exposed in the canyon walls of Shell Creek. Gradual cutting action by Shell Creek eventually exposed the basement granite layer that lies above the earth's molten core. However, Shell Canyon itself formed during the past million years and is but a baby by geologic standards. Younger canyons are known by they V-shaped profile and narrow canyon walls.
The canyon first began when a fault split the granite bedrock. Water, following the path of least resistance created a continuous downward cutting action exposing many distinct rock layers. Shell Creek gradually cut through the mountain to expose the "basement" granite layer. Basement rock, also call bedrock, is a term used to describe the oldest layer closest to the earth's core.
A Riparian Oasis
Dictionaries define "oasis" as "a green area in a dry and arid region." In the basin west of the Bighorn Mountains, average precipitation is less than 10 inches of rain and snow annually, qualifying it as a desert. In this arid climate, Shell Creek stands out as a green ribbon of life, receiving 20-23 inches of precipitation annually.
Plants and animals thrive in these streamside zones, also called riparian areas. These green zones provide plenty of food and shelter right next to water - the basics for survival. Riparian areas are also transportation corridors or highways for animals that depend on water for food and shelter.
Water as an Ecosystem Service
Healthy forest ecosystems are ecological life-support systems. Forests provide a full suite of goods and services that are vital to human health and livelihood, natural assets we call ecosystem services. Learn more about ecosystem services.
The Pathways of Water
Flowing water a magnet of human settlement and Shell Creek is no exception. Prehistoric cultures have hunted and camped in this region continuously for over 10,000 years. The Shoshone, Sioux, Crow, and Cheyenne tribes all lived here at one time, drawn by the bounty of flora and fauna in Shell Canyon.
Wringing Out a Livelihood
By the 1800s, settlers were trying to wring a livelihood from the harsh environment in Shell Canyon and the valley below. With less than 10 inches a year, land suitable for scarce. "Dry farming" ended in dismal failure for many early families and Buffalo Bill Cody recognized that without irrigation, the arid lands of Wyoming could not attract new settlers. He was instrumental in attracting Mormon families - most from Utah and already adept at irrigation - to develop land between Shell Canyon and Cody.
Ranchers and Water
Today, local ranchers and farmers rely on mountain snowpack stored as run-off in area reservoirs to provide a slow and steady release of irrigation water over the entire growing season. Without it, barley, sugar beets, hay, and wheat could barely survive here.
The Local Faucet
The Bighorn National Forest supplies the surrounding valley with 25 billion gallons of quality, life-sustaining water. Learn more about how forests are the faucets of our nation.
Resource Conservation at Shell Falls
Reducing water and energy use are two of the strategies that the Bighorn National Forest uses to conserve resources and lighten our impact on the land. At Shell Falls, some of these practices include:
- Using low-maintenance materials such as steel, concrete, and metal
- Occupancy sensors that turn off when buildings are vacant
- Dual-flush toilets and low-flow urinals
- On-demand water heating
- Planting native drought tolerant trees, shrubs, and grasses.
What Do you Spend in Water? What Do you Save?
There is no more water available on earth today than there was millions of years ago. The same water keeps recycling itself over the planet, again and again. A growing population with ever-increasing needs puts pressure on the 1% that is fresh water.
Visit the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) WaterSense Program to calculate how much water you use in a day, and how much you can save.
First open in 1994, the Burgess Junction Visitor Center is a great place to stop for a break and stretch your legs on the self-guided interpretive trail. Enjoy beautiful scenic views and learn a little bit about the Bighorn National Forest. The Visitor Center is operated under agreement by Sheridan Travel and Tourism. It is typically open during the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
From Dayton, WY, take Hwy 14 west for about 25 miles.
The Bighorns have a lot to offer for recreation opportunities. Before you head out, look at our Visitor Maps and Guides page for maps and information about what to see and do.
For a complete list of opportunities and locations, look over the Bighorn Recreation page. Be sure to select the Recreation Regions for a breakdown of activities organized by travel routes.
Although not designated as wilderness until the 1984 passage of the Wyoming Wilderness act, the area has been managed as a primitive area since 1932. The 191,914 acre Cloud Peak Wilderness spans 27 miles along the spine of the Bighorn Mountain Range encompassing the tallest peak in the range at 13,167 feet, Cloud Peak. There is a special registration requirement, along with other regulations in place to protect this sensitive and unique area. Learn more by visiting the Wilderness page.