Bighorn Canyon - Montana

April 18, 2014 • 1 Comment

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Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Also, see my post about proper planning for photography(because luck is only 90% of it):

Resources for Photographers: Planning for Photography

The Bighorn Canyon has to be my favorite place to go in Montana. The recreation area as a whole offers fun seekers of all types plenty of space to run around. There are areas for dirt biking and four wheeling, boating, fishing, and hiking with incredible views. The hiking areas are well separated from any of the other activities, so you won't be in the way of a dirt biker, and their noise wont be bothering you.

The thing that has made me enjoy this place so much is the fact that I have never really been here in the summer, or peak season. I always go in the winter and have never had to share a trail with anyone. The place is basically abandoned except for the occasional park ranger, bighorn sheep, or wild pony. The reason for its emptiness in the winter is obvious. The temperatures can be very cold and the winds are unforgiving. But when I am seeking out solitude in nature, sometimes poor conditions just come with the territory. This time around I got a little lucky. I went in during spring on a nice 50° day and saw one car and that is it, I had the place all to myself.

The park straddles the Montana/Wyoming Border. To get here from Billings, I drove down to Lovell Wyoming, and then turned back north. Be sure not to speed in Wyoming! THEY DON'T WRITE WARNINGS!

I started as I always do, drive the length of the park and back looking for horses and bighorns. This time, I only saw one horse(not pictured) and a handful of mule deer by the corral.

I then started off into the Sullivan's Knob Trail. It's about a mile out and back. I was feeling ambitious at first, and wanted to hike into the Lower or Upper Layout, but I just didn't have it in me. (driving across the country can do that to a guy) I will say I am satisfied with the scene provided at the edge of the canyon via the Sullivan's Knob Trail.

As soon as I got out of the car, I saw some really awesome Great Plains Yucca Plants on the trail. These things are so sweet! I always walk really close to them, feeling them prick my calf really reminds me of home.

Then, down towards the edge, the view gets incredible...

After my little hike, I made my way up to Devil Canyon Overlook and headed for the Arch.

The drop off in Devil Canyon is a shear 1000 feet down! The shape of the canyon will echo your yell back to you about 4 times! If you drop a rock you can count to almost 5 before you hear the echo of it hitting the bottom. It's incredible. There is a sense of danger and excitement as you approach the edge and you feel the wind shooting up at you from the bottom.

Then, as the sun dropped down a bit I started chasing the clouds to get different compositions.

I was wearing shorts on this afternoon, and as soon as the sun went down, I REALLY started to feel that wind! So I jumped into the car for a moment, took a call from my lovely wife, and then glanced out the passenger window and spotted a sweet rising full moon! So back out into the wind I went!

Then, on my way out, I stopped at the entrance sign and did a little lightpainting.

I anxiously await the next time I can return to Bighorn Canyon(or anywhere in Mountain Time Zone for that matter), thanks for looking.

Keywords: bighorn canyon, bighorn canyon national recreation area, canon 5d mark ii, devil canyon overlook, Michael Speed Photography, montana, montana photography, moonrise, photography, sunset, wyoming

Comments

Ashley(non-registered)

Take your wife next time!

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