Lovell WyomingATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Lovell, Wyoming.
1. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
SPECTACULAR CANYON VIEWS
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area serves as the main gateway attraction for Lovell, offering visitors breathtaking views of towering, multicolored canyon walls. Visitors can experience the canyon by renting canoes at Horseshoe Bend Marina or booking kayak and stand-up paddleboard tours through area outfitters. The recreation area provides an entire day's worth of activities with numerous trails surrounding Bighorn Lake.
2. Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark
ANCIENT SACRED SITE
Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark features a captivating stone structure that is over 7,000 years old. The site is steeped in mystery and cultural significance, offering visitors a glimpse into ancient Native American history. Located west of Lovell in the Bighorn National Forest, this sacred site continues to be an important spiritual location for many indigenous peoples.
3. Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center
WILD HORSE EDUCATION
Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center provides visitors with an opportunity to learn about the history and significance of the region's iconic wild horses. The center serves as an educational gateway to the nearby Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. Visitors can gain valuable information before heading out to potentially view the beautiful wild mustangs in their natural habitat.
4. Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range
WILD HORSES ROAM FREE
Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range offers visitors the chance to witness Wyoming's wild mustangs roaming freely in their natural environment. Located north of Lovell, this range provides photographers and wildlife enthusiasts with opportunities to observe these majestic animals. The wild horse range showcases the raw splendor of Wyoming's natural landscape and the freedom of its equine residents.
5. Queen Bee Gardens
SWEET HONEY TREATS
Queen Bee Gardens is a family-run local shop specializing in candies and all things honey. Visitors to this sweet destination can sample and purchase a variety of honey-based products made locally in Lovell. The shop represents one of the charming local businesses that contribute to Lovell's small-town character and appeal.
6. Horseshoe Bend Marina
WATER RECREATION HUB
Horseshoe Bend Marina serves as the primary water recreation center on Bighorn Lake within the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The marina offers boat rentals, canoes, and guided boat tours for visitors wanting to explore the canyon from the water. From this location, visitors can easily access hidden coves and experience the full majesty of the towering canyon walls.
7. Porcupine Falls
REFRESHING MOUNTAIN WATERFALL
Porcupine Falls is a stunning natural waterfall located west of Lovell in the Bighorn National Forest. The falls offer a refreshing destination for hikers seeking beautiful scenery and a cool respite during warm weather months. Visitors can enjoy the picturesque cascade as it tumbles through the forested landscape of the Bighorn Mountains.
8. Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area
WILDLIFE VIEWING PARADISE
Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area encompasses over 19,000 acres of protected land offering endless opportunities for outdoor recreation and wildlife observation. Visitors can explore this vast area for photography, birding, and viewing native Wyoming wildlife in their natural setting. The management area provides a less crowded alternative to experience the region's natural beauty.
9. Foster Gulch Golf Course
SCENIC DESERT GOLFING
Foster Gulch Golf Course is a charming 9-hole public course located just a few miles outside of Lovell. Golfers can enjoy the unique challenge of playing amid Wyoming's beautiful desert landscape with mountain views. The course provides a relaxing recreational option for both locals and visitors seeking outdoor activity.
10. Hyart Theater
HISTORIC CINEMA EXPERIENCE
The Hyart Theater has been a cornerstone of Lovell's cultural scene, offering movie entertainment in a historic setting. This classic theater provides visitors with a nostalgic cinema experience that harkens back to a bygone era. The Hyart represents the preservation of small-town Americana and community gathering spaces in rural Wyoming.
11. Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center
GATEWAY INFORMATION HUB
Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center provides essential information, exhibits, and orientation for travelers exploring the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The center offers maps, ranger assistance, and educational displays about the region's natural and cultural history. Visitors can plan their canyon adventures and learn about the geological formations that make this area unique.
12. Horsethief Cave
UNDERGROUND ADVENTURE SITE
Horsethief Cave offers adventurous visitors a chance to explore one of Wyoming's fascinating underground formations near Lovell. The cave system contains interesting geological features and provides a different perspective on the region's natural history. Exploration of the cave requires proper preparation and sometimes permits, making it an attraction for more serious adventure seekers.
13. Devils Tower National Monument
ICONIC ROCK FORMATION
Devils Tower National Monument is a massive monolith that towers 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, located a few hours' drive from Lovell. Also known as Bear Lodge, this formation is a sacred place for many Native American tribes, including the Arapaho, Crow, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lakota, and Shoshone. Designated as America's first national monument in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the tower is surrounded by pine forests and grasslands home to deer, prairie dogs, and other wildlife.
14. Sinks Canyon State Park
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARING RIVER
Sinks Canyon State Park features the mysterious middle fork of the Popo Agie River that disappears underground at an area called "the Sinks" before reemerging a quarter mile away at "the Rise." Scientific tests using colored dye confirmed the two water features are connected, though more water emerges at the Rise than goes in at the Sinks, which remains an unexplained phenomenon. Located outside of Lander, this natural wonder represents one of Wyoming's most intriguing geological features worth the drive from Lovell.
15. Heart Mountain
DISTINCTIVE MOUNTAIN LANDMARK
Heart Mountain is a distinctive Wyoming landmark named for its heart-like shape when viewed from certain angles, located near Powell not far from Lovell. The mountain has both geological significance and historical importance, as it was the site of a Japanese American internment camp during World War II. Visitors can hike the mountain and visit the nearby Heart Mountain Interpretive Center to learn about this challenging chapter in American history.