Bighorn Canyon Sets Fall and Winter Lineup: Free Firewood Collection November 3-17
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, near Lovell in Bighorn County, Wyoming, on October 27 announced its fall and winter arrangements, saying park staff have completed winterization work and prepared a full slate of programs so families, outdoor enthusiasts, and sportsmen can make the most of the season.
"Bighorn Canyon is an amazing piece of the American West. Whether you're out fishing, hunting, exploring, or simply taking in the views, we want people to have a safe and memorable experience this season, and make it home safely," said Superintendent Dustin Sene.
As of October 27, the lake level stood at 3,626.4 feet: small boats may launch at Horseshoe Bend when the lake is at least 3,620 feet, and large boats require a minimum of 3,625 feet. Courtesy docks will remain at boat launches until ice begins to form. The Cal S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center keeps winter hours of Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and will close on November 26 for Thanksgiving. The visitor center fishing pond will soon be drained for the season; before that, anglers are invited to fish it one last time under standard pond rules, with loaner equipment available at the front desk.
A special opportunity this season is firewood collection. Following the Kane Fire, which burned roughly 1,900 acres of the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area in March 2026, crews partnered with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to remove hazardous trees along roadsides and popular recreation areas. The downed cottonwoods have spent the summer drying, and from November 3 through 17 visitors may collect dead and downed wood from a designated area and take it home as free firewood while helping with cleanup. Participants must check in at the Lovell Visitor Center, collect only dead, downed wood within the designated area, keep vehicles on existing roads, refrain from skidding or dragging logs, use chainsaws fitted with spark arresters with a fire extinguisher on site, follow current fire restrictions, and wear blaze orange during hunting season; maps are available at registration.
With hunting seasons under way, visitors in the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Area are strongly encouraged to wear blaze orange or other bright colors. Upcoming programs include "Winter Is Coming" with Ranger Jenna at the visitor center on November 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. for all ages; the "Merry and Bright Sale" on November 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and a book club the same day from 3 to 4 p.m. discussing John Clayton's Cowboy Girl: The Life of Caroline Lockhart, a series running through February 2027; and a Dark Skies Astrophotography Workshop on December 3 at 5 p.m. in the visitor center auditorium with Ranger Zach, followed by an optional outdoor session wrapping up at 7 p.m., open to all skill levels with a camera or smartphone and warm clothing. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead, check current conditions, and confirm program details before arriving.
(Source: National Park Service)
Source: National Park Service
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：从 Devil Canyon Overlook 望向 Bighorn Canyon 的峡谷与河湾（资料照片）。DimiTalen 摄，CC0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Bighorn Canyon from Devil Canyon Overlook (file photo). Photo by DimiTalen, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
