As temperatures continue to drop, staff at the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area continue to close facilities for the winter.

Horseshoe Bend Marina is closed and utilities — including the fish cleaning station, RV dump station, and campground restroom facilities — have been winterized. The campground is being closed today (Thursday) for upgrades; this project will add 10 new utility sites, with five per loop. Once the work is finished, the campground will reopen to the public, with campground fees discontinued for the winter. The restroom near the marina remains open year-round.

Most lake facilities have been removed from the lake, though the Devil Canyon floating restroom will remain in the water until mid-October. The courtesy docks at Horsehoe Bend and Barry’s Landing will remain in the water until the lake begins to freeze or the lake drops below launch levels. The Ok-A-Beh Marina is closed for the winter, but that courtesy dock remains in the water.

The Afterbay and Grapevine Creek campgrounds near Fort Smith, Montana, remain open for the winter, but the RV dump station is closed. Fees will continue to be charged at those campgrounds, but fees have been discontinued at the Trail Creek Campground at Barry’s Landing.

The Yellowtail Dam Visitor Center near Fort Smith is closed for the winter. However, the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center near Lovell will continue outdoor visitor center hours — 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday — through Oct. 10. Starting Oct. 13, the visitor center will open to the public with fall hours — Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

“Come and experience the season at Bighorn Canyon,” said Bighorn Canyon Chief Interpretive Ranger Christy Fleming. “All trails and historic sites are open year-round.”

For more information or help planning your trip, call the Lovell Visitor Center at 307-548-5406.