June programs set at Bighorn Canyon

The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is gearing up for fun programming this summer. The park staff will be working with partners and volunteers to provide a variety of programs.

The following programs are just the beginning and can be enjoyed on the South District of the park near Lovell:

Geology:

June 14 – Join volunteer geologist Greg Jones on the porch at Horseshoe Bend Marina at 4 p.m. to learn about the geologic history that can be viewed at Sykes Mountain. 

June 21 – Join volunteer geologist Jones at Barry’s Landing on the boat ramp at 4 p.m. to read the fossil wall.

June 28 – Join volunteer geologist Jones at State Line Trail at 6 p.m. to walk along the fossil beach.

Ranch tours:

June 15 – Join Ranger Christy Fleming and Homesteader Museum Director Brandi Wright for the first of three Spark ranch tours. Bighorn Canyon is partnering with the Homesteader Museum in Powell. The Homesteader received a grant from the Smithsonian Institute to present Spark based programming.

“What is Spark?” Fleming asked. “The story of human history is written in inventions and innovations. People are problem solvers. Sometimes we invent — create a completely new thing or a process based on new ideas. More often, we innovate. That is, we introduce a fresh idea or an invention into use in some way that creates a new way of doing or thinking.

“All it takes is a spark — an idea —to get started.”

Places of Innovation takes visitors on a journey through time and place across America to discover the stories of people who lived, worked, played, collaborated, adapted, took risks, solved problems and sometimes failed — all in the pursuit of something new. The themes addressed are technological, social, artistic and cultural/heritage innovation.

Bighorn Canyon will give three ranch tours with the Homesteader Spark program.  The first is June 15: Cowboy Construction at the Lockhart Ranch. Participants should plan to meet Ranger Fleming at the Lovell Visitor Center. Participants will carpool to the ranch, where they will learn about Caroline Lockhart and the innovation they used, and that the Park Service continues to use, to stabilize the ranch buildings.

Other Spark ranch tours will be July 13 at Hillsboro and August 10 at Ewing-Snell. 

June 21 – Join Ranger Nathan Anderson for an informal tour of the Hillsboro Ranch.  Anderson will be at the Ranch from 9 to 11 a.m.

Artist In Residence:

June 15 – AIR Jessica Moore has arrived. She will be presenting a workshop in a “nature journal.”

“Creating a nature journal is a great way to capture what you observe in nature,” Fleming said. “Visitors will find Jess at the Ewing-Snell Ranch from 9 to 3 June 15. Jessica will guide visitors in considerations for capturing beautiful outdoor features in watercolor of our location.”

Ranger programs:

June 14 – Join Ranger Anderson at 7 p.m. at the Horseshoe Bend Amphitheater to learn about bears and bear aware strategies.

Lake conditions:

The lake level as of June 3 was 3624.7. The driftwood is starting. Driftwood can cause serious damage to boat props and lower units. Black Canyon and Dayboard 9 campgrounds remain closed. There is no fuel on the lake. Concession docks at Horseshoe Bend were installed on June 4. The Dryhead floating restroom is scheduled to be installed by the end June. All other docks and campgrounds are open.

“Bighorn Canyon hopes you can join us for one or more of these programs,” Fleming said. “If you have questions about the programs on the South District near Lovell, call the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center at 307-548-5406.”