Where the Locals Go

If you’re the type that wants to find the hidden gems of every place you visit, then sometimes it’s a good idea to talk to the locals. These gems are slightly harder to find (except steamboat) as they are not well marked.

little goose falls

About an hours drive from Arrowhead Lodge through some of the most scenic alpine terrain the Bighorns have to offer, this short and easy hike rewards you with one of the best kept secrets in Wyoming, Little Goose Falls. To get there, you will need a good 4x4 vehicle as it require two river crossings and two rocky and steep inclines. Get directions here.

Shell Reservoir

An excellent place to cast out a line or just enjoy the view. Shell Reservoir is stocked full of trout. If you’re feeling adventurous, rent a kayak from Wyoming Adventure Ninja and explore all shores of Shell Reservoir. Directions.

Steamboat point

Beloved by locals and visitors alike, this geological wonder is great for adventurous folk of all kind. There are two ways to reach the top of the 500 foot cliff. You can take the hiking trail, which is less than a mile and takes under 30 minutes to complete, or, you can try your luck with ropes and a harness. The experts at Bighorn Mountain Guides can show you the ropes!

the top of copmans tomb

Copmans Tomb is actually no secret as thousands of travelers see it from the highway as they make their way down Shell Canyon on the Bighorn Scenic Byway, but getting to the top? That’s a whole other story. This is perhaps one of the greatest views of a canyon in the United States, other than the Grand Canyon, but that’s debatable. The view on top of Copmans Tomb is truly unbelievable. Approximately 4,500ft higher than the rest of Shell Canyon below, this overwhelming scenic overlook has more to offer than most other overlooks. To the east lays the Cloud Peak Wilderness and the Bighorns tallest mountain (13,166ft) while to the south you see the other side of Shell Canyon and the luscious pine forest slowly thin out to the desert below. But the best view lays to the west. As the Bighorns descend downward towards the Bighorn Basin, the rock formations reveal how the Bighorns were created. It doesn’t take a geologist to realized how massive the rocks are that form these mountains. Further west, the desert landscape of the basin is vibrant with reds and oranges while finally, as far as your eyes can see on a clear day lays the Absaroka Range and Beartooth Mountains, both of which are hundreds of miles away.