Black Hills National Forest

The Bear Lodge Mountains form the northwestern arm of the Black Hills, a low, forested range that carries the same dark pines and cool air as the higher country to the east. The name is a translation of the Lakota name for the whole range, and the hills remain sacred ground to the Lakota, Cheyenne, and other Plains nations.

Above the town of Sundance rises Sundance Mountain, a landmark that gave the town its name and, by way of the town, gave the outlaw Harry Longabaugh his nickname, the Sundance Kid, after he served time in the local jail. Trails climb through the pines to open views across the plains.

Tucked in a valley in the Bear Lodge country, Cook Lake is a small, still reservoir ringed by pines with a campground, a loop trail, and quiet fishing for trout and bass. It is the kind of place families return to year after year, easy to reach yet far enough in to feel remote.

Beyond the lake, a web of forest roads threads the ridges and draws, good for a slow scenic drive, a mountain-bike ride, or a hunt for fall color. In autumn the aspen stands flare gold against the dark evergreens, and the whole range goes crisp and quiet.

Rising as it does out of dry grassland, the forest is a magnet for wildlife. Elk, white-tailed and mule deer, wild turkey, and the occasional black bear move through the timber, and the mix of pine, aspen, and meadow makes for rich birdwatching.

The contrast is the whole appeal. You climb off the hot, open plains into shade and the smell of warm pine within a few miles, and the temperature and the mood shift with the elevation. It is why these hills have drawn people, for ceremony and for refuge, for a very long time.

Sundance, just off Interstate 90, is the gateway and the place to pick up maps and information at the ranger district office. From town, forest roads climb north into the Bear Lodge Mountains toward Cook Lake and the higher ridges.

Summer and early fall are the prime seasons, with warm days, cool nights, and dry roads. Come prepared to be self-sufficient, respect the many private inholdings, and use the whole area as a peaceful base for the wonders nearby, chief among them Devils Tower.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Black Hills National Forest spans the Black Hills of northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota, a scenic island of forested mountains rising darkly above the surrounding plains, cloaked in ponderosa pine that give the hills their name. On the Wyoming side, the forest offers hiking, camping, fishing, scenic drives, and wildlife viewing amid pine-covered ridges, granite outcrops, canyons, and meadows, with a quieter, less-crowded feel than the busier South Dakota side. Rich in Native American heritage and frontier history, the Black Hills are beautiful in every season. With its pine forests, trails, and scenery, Black Hills National Forest offers a rewarding outdoor destination in northeastern Wyoming.

You can hike and mountain bike the forest trails, camp at the campgrounds, fish the streams and lakes, drive the scenic byways through the pine-covered hills, watch for wildlife including deer and turkeys, picnic, and in winter enjoy snowmobiling and snow sports. The Wyoming side offers a peaceful, uncrowded experience amid granite outcrops, canyons, and forest. Its scenery and quiet are highlights. With its hiking, camping, fishing, scenic drives, and winter recreation, Black Hills National Forest offers a rewarding and often peaceful outdoor experience in northeastern Wyoming.

The forest is higher and cooler than the surrounding plains, with weather that can change quickly and bring afternoon thunderstorms in summer or snow in the colder months, so bring layers, rain gear, and water, and check road and trail conditions, as some forest roads are unpaved and can be rough or muddy when wet. It is wildlife country, so store food properly and give animals space. Stay on marked trails and be prepared for changing weather. Being ready for the forest conditions and weather ensures a safe visit to Black Hills National Forest in northeastern Wyoming.

Late spring through fall is ideal for hiking, camping, fishing, and scenic driving, when the weather is mildest and the forest is green, with summer the peak season and fall bringing pleasant temperatures, while winter brings snow for snowmobiling and snow sports. Even summer evenings are cool in the hills, so bring layers. The forest is beautiful in every season. For warm-weather recreation aim for late spring through fall, and for snow sports visit in winter, enjoying Black Hills National Forest's year-round appeal in northeastern Wyoming.

Black Hills National Forest is in northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota, near the town of Sundance, Keyhole State Park, the Vore Buffalo Jump, Devils Tower National Monument, and within reach of the South Dakota Black Hills with their famous attractions. That makes Black Hills National Forest a rewarding outdoor stop to combine with Devils Tower, Keyhole State Park, the Vore Buffalo Jump, and the other attractions of northeastern Wyoming on a visit to the state.