Snowmobiling the Bighorns

If you’re looking to snowmobile in Wyoming, you don’t have to go far to find an award-winning trail system. With 387 miles of groomed trails and 250” of annual snowfall, Bighorn National Forest is a snowmobiler’s dream. There are so many great trails that it can be hard to know which one to start with, so the experts at Peak Powersports, LLC have put together this list of some of our favorites. To view new and pre-owned snowmobile models, visit us online or at our dealership in Sheridan, Wyoming. We are proud to serve northern Wyoming, including nearby communities like Buffalo.

Sawmill Pass (Trail A)

Trail A, also called Sawmill Pass, is a 30-mile loop on the Bighorns’ eastern slope. Highlights include views of the jagged Cloud Peak Wilderness, historical sites from the American West like a tie-flume splash dam, and some of Bighorn National Forest’s most breathtaking vistas. You’ll also see some of the Bighorn’s highest peaks, including the 13,005 ft Black Tooth Mountain.

Shell Creek (Trail P)

Trail P, aka Shell Creek, is 28.5 mile groomed trail that starts at Granite Pass and explores the Bighorns’ western slope. Eventually, the trail hits Paintrock, where it turns into an ungroomed, marked trail and continues for another 30 miles. On this trail, you’ll work your way around the back of the 9,900ft Antelope Butte before descending through the 2,100ft deep Shell Canyon. You’ll finish your ride by driving out the other side having just enjoyed one of the Bighorn’s most magnificent canyons.

Bear Lodge Swirl (Trail H)

Trail H, or Bear Lodge Swirl, is one of the more popular trails. This loop follows Dayton Gulch Road, eventually connecting to the Medicine Wheel Scenic Byway before coming back to Bear Lodge. This trail offers stunning vistas of both Bighorn National Forest and Bighorn Basin. Make sure to watch out for famous landmarks like the Twin Buttes. These granite cliffs form a near mirror image, and the sight of them rising hundreds of feet above the Tongue River is one of the most delightful in the Bighorns. If you get the timing just right, you’ll find yourself at Observation Point at sunset. The unforgettable sight of the sun falling behind the Absaroka Range and Yellowstone National Park 100 miles across the desert basin below is a real treat.

Black Mountain from Arrowhead Lodge (Trail C & S )

Another popular route takes you to Black Mountain from Arrowhead Lodge, primarily via trails C & S. This trail primarily explores the Bighorns’ eastern slope. On the trail C section, you’ll pass through the heart of Bighorn National Forest and view South Fork Tongue River before working your way to the top of the valley. From there, a brief quarter mile on Trail A will connect you to the Black Mountain Trail, or Trail S. There you’ll further explore the forest’s heart, this time with ample opportunities to absorb views of the 9,400ft Black Mountain.    

For a snowmobiler, there’s nothing quite like having a selection of amazing trails and gorgeous vistas practically in your own backyard. Peak Powersports, LLC gladly recommends the Bighorns to any snowmobiler, whether they are local or from out of town. If you are in the northern Wyoming area, we’d love it if you’d stop by our Sheridan dealership. We are proud to offer a selection of new and pre-owned snowmobile models, as well as various support services.