2 DaysYoung Families3 Stops

Bighorn Canyon NRA (WY side), Wyoming

2-Day Itinerary for Young Families

“Turquoise Water, Red Rock Sky: Two Gentle Days in Bighorn Canyon”

Overview Day 1 Day 2 Tips Skip to day-by-day ↓

Here, the desert breaks open into a canyon almost a thousand feet deep, its walls striped red and purple around a ribbon of turquoise water. Spring softens the high desert with wildflowers and mild air, though the sky can turn in minutes—this is a two-day introduction paced for small legs, nap schedules, and wide-eyed wonder at just how big a canyon can be.

At a Glance

Climate & Weather

Spring days run mild but changeable—expect 50s to 60s°F with a real chance of rain or gusty wind. Pack waterproof layers, a warm hat for morning chill, and sun protection for when the clouds break.

Getting Around

A car is essential; distances between clusters and towns are significant and there is no public transit. Roads are paved to the main overlooks, but drive slowly for wildlife and check conditions after rain.

Budget

Budget roughly $40–70/day for a family of four, mostly groceries and gas since dining options inside the park are essentially nonexistent and towns are 30–90 minutes out.

Safety

This is remote high-desert canyon country with limited cell service and no guardrails at most overlooks—hold hands near rim edges and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes once temperatures warm. Secure snacks in the car, as both black bears and bighorn sheep frequent the area.

Connectivity

Cell coverage is sparse to nonexistent inside the recreation area—download maps and let someone know your plan before you go. Lovell and Cody have reliable signal and WiFi.

Local Tips

Visitor centers keep short hours (8am–5pm) and there's nothing open in the evening inside the park, so plan dinners in town. Spring wildflowers peak on the sagebrush flats near the overlooks—perfect for a slow, kid-paced scavenger hunt. Arrive at overlooks before 9am for both empty parking lots and the softest light.

Highlights

Standing atop Yellowtail Dam as spillway water roars below
Wildflowers dotting the sagebrush along canyon rim turnouts
Bighorn Lake's 71 miles of water framed by towering cliffs
The impossible turquoise curve of Horseshoe Bend
Golden eagles riding thermals above the canyon walls
Quiet, uncrowded overlooks if you arrive with the early light
Easy, stroller-friendly viewpoints with zero technical hiking

Day-by-Day Plan

Arrival & Orientation

Day 1: First Light on the Dam

A gentle half-day introduction to the canyon's northern gateway, with under a mile of easy walking and a full rest window built around nap time.

Wear

Layers—light jacket over a long sleeve shirt, waterproof outer layer, closed-toe shoes for uneven overlook edges, and a warm hat for the cool morning air.

Budget

$30–50 (gas, snacks, and a town dinner)

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Yellowtail Dam · morning · 60 min · Yellowtail Dam & Afterbay — Engineering marvel meets wild water

Arrive by 8:30am and the overlook is nearly empty, just the roar of spillway water and the mineral smell of the reservoir drifting up warm stone. Kids will love the sheer scale of it—ask them to guess how many school buses tall the dam is (it's over 30). By mid-morning the parking area starts to fill, so this early window is the sweet spot for a calm first stop.

Shoot the full dam face from the Afterbay overlook in morning light, before haze builds later in the day.

Paths are paved but uneven in spots—strollers manage with a firm push; hold little hands near the rail-less edges.

10 min drive — A short hop along the canyon road, red rock rising on one side and glimpses of blue water on the other.

9:45 AM - 11:15 AM

Bighorn Lake · midday · 90 min · Yellowtail Dam & Afterbay — Engineering marvel meets wild water

A short drive to the main overlook opens up 71 miles of turquoise water pinched between canyon walls—let the kids spot eagles overhead or count boats far below. This is an easy, flat stretch for a picnic blanket and a slow snack break before the return drive; sage and juniper scent the breeze, and there's plenty of room to wander without any real trail demands.

Midday light flattens the canyon colors a bit—if you can linger past noon, the shifting clouds add drama to wide shots of the reservoir.

Elevated parking area offers a short, mostly flat viewing spot suitable for strollers; benches are sparse, so bring a portable seat or blanket.

If it rains: If rain moves in, both overlooks remain viewable from the car or covered viewpoint areas near Yellowtail Dam's visitor facilities—bring rain jackets for the short dashes between car and railing, and keep visits brief since trails turn slippery.

The day begins gently, with an early arrival at Yellowtail Dam while the canyon is still hushed and cool. The dam's scale is almost cartoonish up close—water thundering through spillways, stone warm underfoot, and canyon walls striped in red and purple stretching in every direction. This is a low-key, high-wonder start, ideal for small travelers still adjusting to a new place.

After Bighorn Lake's wide-open views and a relaxed picnic-style break, head back toward lodging for the nap window between 2 and 3pm—there's nothing else open inside the park in the afternoon anyway, so this rest stop lines up naturally with the canyon's own slow rhythm.

With the day's only real activity complete by late morning, evening is unhurried: a drive into Lovell for dinner and basic errands, since the park itself closes down services by dusk. Let the kids wind down with the canyon's colors fading behind you through the car window.

Canyon Overlooks

Day 2: Curves of Red Rock and Turquoise Water

A relaxed morning-to-early-afternoon exploration of the southern canyon, covering under a mile of walking with a midday return for rest.

Wear

Similar spring layering—waterproof jacket, sun hat for breaks in the clouds, sturdy shoes for slightly uneven overlook platforms.

Budget

$30–50 (gas, snacks, and a town meal)

45 min drive — A longer canyon-road drive south past sagebrush flats freckled with spring wildflowers—worth a slow pullover if little ones need a stretch break.

8:30 AM - 9:20 AM

Horseshoe Bend · morning · 50 min · Horseshoe Bend & Central Canyon — Red rock drama and river curves

Get here by 8:30am for near-total quiet—just wind, distant river rush, and the kind of vertigo-inducing view that makes kids gasp before they even know why. The turquoise curve of water against burnt-orange rock is unlike anything back home; let them spot lizards or birds along the safer, set-back viewing areas while adults soak in the view. By late morning the overlook fills in, so this window is worth the early start.

Come at sunrise or shortly after for soft light on the canyon walls; midday sun flattens the color contrast dramatically.

Overlook platform is uneven with no guardrails in places—keep kids close and avoid strollers here; a front-carrier works better for toddlers.

Optional detour: Bighorn Lake — Before Horseshoe Bend, as a return stop if time allows on the drive back north

A second, calmer look at the reservoir can reinforce the scale of the canyon for young kids without adding new walking. Skip if: Skip if the morning is already running long or if nap time is approaching—repetition isn't necessary for this age group.

If it rains: If weather turns, the Horseshoe Bend overlook is partially sheltered by canyon walls and light rain won't force an early exit—but heavy rain makes the access road muddy, so check conditions before driving the final stretch and be ready to turn back toward Lovell or Cody instead.

Day two shifts south to the canyon's dramatic red-rock curves, timed for an early, quiet arrival at Horseshoe Bend. The drive down is itself part of the experience—wildflowers scattered across the sage flats, red walls rising slowly into view. This is the trip's visual high point, best experienced calmly and briefly given the exposed, rail-less overlook.

With the main sight seen by mid-morning, the plan mirrors yesterday's rhythm: head back toward town well before the 2–3pm nap window, keeping the day light on stimulation and heavy on rest. There's little reason to linger near the overlook once crowds pick up, and the drive back offers one more scenic pass through the canyon's colors.

Evening wraps up in town, well ahead of the 6:30pm dinner cutoff, with tired, happy kids and a car full of canyon dust. The park itself goes quiet by dusk, so there's nothing lost in choosing an early, easy end to the trip.

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Good to Know

Restaurant details (hours, menus, availability) change frequently. Check current hours before visiting, especially in seasonal destinations.

Dietary compatibility tags are general guidance. If you have severe allergies, confirm directly with the restaurant.

Travel tips are general guidance, not professional safety advice. Check government advisories for latest information.

All prices are approximate and may vary seasonally.

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