Awe-inspiring and untouched, the Bighorn Mountains are the perfect location for an ancient and sacred configuration of stones.

The Bighorn Medicine Wheel is a huge rock pattern laid out centuries ago by Native Americans in an area of the mountain range that was spiritually significant. One of the most amazing things about this stone medicine wheel is that it can still accurately predict astronomical events.

The arrangement of stones at the summit of Medicine Mountain is called a medicine wheel because it's laid out in the shape of a huge wheel, spokes and all.
Mike B./TripAdvisor
The Bighorn Medicine Wheel is estimated to be between 300 and 800 years old. It's 80 feet in diameter and has 28 spokes radiating from the center. The number 28 is thought to have sacred significance among some Native American tribes because of the 28 day cycle associated with the moon.
The wheel sits in an area that's almost 10,000 feet above the Bighorn Range.
Larry M/TripAdvisor
It's said that the spot where the wheel sits is known to Native Americans as "The Place Where the Eagle Lands."
The medicine wheel is located inside the Bighorn National Forest, but it's a special place of interest and is designated as such.
gerard h/TripAdvisor
It's even a national historic landmark.
greg booras/TripAdvisor
The road up Medicine Mountain isn't paved. You can only drive so far and will have to hike the rest of the way to the medicine wheel. The path is wide and clear, however, so it's not a difficult journey.
Rautakallio/TripAdvisor
Many people say when they reach the summit, they can feel a change in the atmosphere, as if they truly are treading on sacred ground.
Ken E/TripAdvisor

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Over 80 Native American tribes still use the Bighorn Medicine Wheel for spiritual purposes, and offerings are often tied to the fence encircling it.
Rhonda M/TripAdvisor
No one is allowed inside the circle without a permit, but people of all races and walks of life make the pilgrimage to see the Bighorn Medicine Wheel every year.
Skulls, bones, and entire offerings of bison or deer are sometimes placed inside the wheel.
Eric/Flickr
Archaeoastronomers believe that the ancient Americans who built the Bighorn Medicine Wheel used it for more than religious purposes. They discovered that when sitting at one point on the wheel and looking toward another, you'll see a specific spot on the horizon.
carfull...home from Mongolia/Flickr
Researchers learned that pairing up two points on the wheel match with points in the sky where the sun rises and sets on the longest day of the year - the summer solstice.
Neville Nel/Flickr
They also found that other pairs of points on the wheel mark where bright stars such as Sirius rise in correlation with the sun and the solstice.
Luis Felipe Padilla Moreno/Flickr
It's amazing to think how advanced ancient civilizations were and that they could use something as simple as a pile of stones to create their technology.
brewbooks/Flickr

Have you visited the Bighorn Medicine Wheel? What was most memorable about the stone medicine wheel for you? Feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments below — we would love to hear from you.

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More to Explore

things to do in Wyoming

Beth C. | May 05, 2023

What are the best parks to visit in Wyoming?

You probably won't be surprised to learn that Wyoming is filled with parks, and each of them is worthy of a visit. Below you'll find our guide to exploring the very best parks in Wyoming.

Wyoming National Parks

  • Grand Teton National Park — explore acres of pristine lakes, rugged mountains, dense alpine forests, and extraordinary wildlife
  • Yellowstone National Park — established in 1872, this was the very first national park in the U.S., and it's famous for its unique hydrothermal characteristics

 

Wyoming State Parks

Wyoming's state parks are every bit as impressive as the national parks, and oftentimes, much less crowded. Below is a list of our top recommendations for state parks to visit in Wyoming:

  • Bear River State Park — located just outside of Evanston, famous for bison and elk
  • Boysen State Park — famous for river activities and also features unique geological formations to explore
  • Buffalo Bill State Park — one of Wyoming's most famous state park, offering gorgeous views of the Absaroka Mountains
  • Curt Gowdy State Park
  • Glendo State Park
  • Guernsey State Park
  • Hot Springs State Park
  • Seminoe State Park
  • Sinks Canyon State Park

 

Exploring Wyoming's vast array of parks really is one of the best ways to get to know what makes this state so special. For more information, check out our feature article outlining some of the best state parks to visit in Wyoming.

Where are some off-the-grid destinations in Wyoming?

You could probably argue that most of Wyoming's destinations are off-the-grid, given that the state is so vast. Below is a list of places where you can have a truly off-the-grid adventure in Wyoming:

  • Kirwin
  • Medicine Bow National Forest
  • Independence Rock
  • Shoshone National Forest
  • Devils Tower
  • Bighorn National Forest
  • Grand Teton Climbers Ranch
  • Fossil Butte

 

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