Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, Lovell, Wy

                                                                                                           July 2018 & June 2019

Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, 
Lovell, Wyoming

     We camped at the Big Horn Rec. Area- Horseshoe Bend Campground, out of Lovell on Hwy 37.  A very nice area with/without hook ups. If you want more info on the wild herds on the mountain, be sure to stop at the Wild Horse Center, near Lovell Wy. Thirty years ago we watched a PBS documentary- CLOUD. The saga of a colt born on the mt. and his haram, and died. His offspring still live there.    We trailered to a trail head off of the Crooked Creed road, turn on County Rd 16 to the left, at the base of Sykes Ridge Road.  There are two ways up to the mountain, which makes a loop, which is in Montana.  You can see a few horses down low, with the majority of the herds at the top in a large meadow.  The slow going road is very scenic with dry vegetation and  colorful rock formations. Then you will travel thru hills and pines. There are several cliffs and overlooks along the way.

Penns Cabin Krueger Cabin Wild horses Big Ice Cave Meadow of horses Horses are close

Once you arrive at the top, you can see the large meadow and Penns Cabin, built in 1925.  We also took the next road to the right to a line camp Krueger cabin.  On the top of the hill and loop, you can take a right and follow the road down to the Big Ice Cave. Yes, even when the temps were 100, there is still ice at the bottom of these limestone ridges. You can continue on this road and make a new loop back to camp.  Or you can go back to the fenced in horse area and continue around the original loop.  Take time and look for the horses, they are not afraid of humans. Today we saw 98 horses. There is another small ice cave on the west side of the open meadow, with a pole fence blocking the way to this area, seen right off the trail.  Continue down the loop, back to the valley below.

	INFORMATION> LOCATION>   NEAREST CITY=Lovell, Wy   DIRECTIONS=22mi on 16 E/37 N to Horseshoe Bend Campground AREA >   TYPE OF LAND=-Dry, rocky, forest, high elevation meadows  , OWNER= BLM QUALITY >Pro-Wild horses, great sights     / Con-trip takes all day / Length of stay  days/ 2, Rating-stars  4* TERRAIN>  MILES OF TRAILS,40+50 hills /dusty down low/elevation                                         TRAIL MAINTENCE=some  /  NEAR BY TRAILS-In Bighorn Mountains REGULATIONS> Permit required-Co.OHV sticker / Camping-on site=Horseshoe Bend campground   req-no. / width req.-No- FEE> Camping-yes / Entry-no fee-no KEY SERVICES> Camping / Gasoline / Diesel / First Aid /  Water / Dump / Food=Lovell SIDE TRIPS> Boat tour on the Bighorn River and a drive to other campgrounds north CONTACTS> Mountain Wild Horse Center, Lovell, Wy  / BLM in Cody, Wy