Staffers at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area are preparing for summer, with several locations ready for visitors.

The courtesy docks are in at Barry’s Landing, Horseshoe Bend and Ok-A-Beh. The Kane boat ramp is cleared and open; and the Trail Creek campground at Barry’s Landing and the Afterbay and Grapevine Creek campgrounds in Fort Smith, Montana, are ready, too.

Bighorn Canyon personnel have been making improvements at Horseshoe Bend, including the addition of 10 water and electric campground sites. The maintenance crew continues to work on the project and opened Loop B in the campground on Friday. There will be no utilities and the restrooms remain closed. As a result, campers will need to be self-contained.

The crew plans to have the Horseshoe Bend campground fully operational by May 1 with new sod placed on the swim beach later in the month.

“Please excuse the mess as we continue to work on projects at Horseshoe Bend,” said Christy Fleming, chief of interpretation at the canyon.

Also in the first part of May, work will begin to extend the Afterbay River launch ramp in Fort Smith. During this time a temporary, primitive graveled launch area north of the ramp will be available as a single lane launch. Parking will be limited to single vehicle parking; vehicles with trailers will be asked to use the overflow parking. Anglers using the area should expect delays and traffic control and may want to consider using the Three Mile access as an alternative. More information will be shared by the National Park Service once construction begins. 

As of Wednesday, the lake elevation at Bighorn Lake stood just under 3,620 feet.  In previous years, 3,617 has been the minimum launch level at Horseshoe Bend, however, this year, park managers noticed a change in the silting, so the elevation of 3,620 is now the minimal recommended launch.

“The park will not put in the courtesy dock at Horseshoe Bend until the lake reaches 3,620,” Fleming said, adding that, “At 3,620, it is only advisable for non-motorized boats and boats that have a shallow draft to launch. It is recommended that larger boats do not launch from Horseshoe Bend until lake levels reach at least 3,625.”

For current lake conditions or help planning a visit, call the Cal S. Taggart Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center at 307-548-5406.