Bighorn Canyon is ready for summer

The staff and services at the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area are gearing up for another busy summer, the park staff announced this week.

The lake level as of May 20 was 3618.6. There is minimal driftwood at this time but will increase as lake levels rise. Boaters are reminded to use caution as even small amounts of driftwood can cause major problems.

Fuel will not be available on the lake through at least June.

Both Horseshoe Bend Marina and Ok-A-Beh Marina will be open for the Memorial Day weekend. The Horseshoe Bend Marina offers food, non-motorized rentals and boat rentals. Daily boat tours will begin when lake levels rise above 3,620 in early June. For more information about boat tours, call Hidden Treasure Charters at 307-899-1401. Visitors can find other concession operators and tour operators on our website.

All courtesy docks are in at Barry’s Landing, Horseshoe Bend and Ok-A-Beh. The concession dock is in at Ok-A-Beh. The concession dock at Horseshoe Bend will be put in as soon as lake levels allow. The floating comfort station at Dryhead will be installed in late June.  The floating comfort station at Devil Canyon is not expected to be installed this summer as it is being upgraded.

The docks will not be installed at Dayboard 9 and Black Canyon by this weekend. Low water and bear concerns will keep these campgrounds closed into early June. The park is monitoring bear issues at both Black Canyon and Dayboard 9. When camping on the lake, boaters are reminded to keep a clean camp, use bear boxes and to not feed the bears.  

The Afterbay river launch and Kane river launch sites are open.

The Afterbay and Grapevine Creek campgrounds are open, with no water and power at this time. The Horseshoe Bend and Trail Creek campgrounds are open, and fee collection has started. Water at Horseshoe Bend will be turned on by May 24.   

The Cal S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center in Lovell will change to summer hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week, starting on May 24. Due to short staffing the Yellowtail Dam Visitor Center in Fort Smith, Montana, will not be open this summer. The park plans to present summer programs on both ends of the park.   

For current lake conditions or help planning a visit, visitors may call the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center at 307-548-5406.