Burgess Ranger Station

Introduction / Overview

For generations of Wyoming residents and visitors seeking the authentic high-mountain experience, the area surrounding the Burgess Ranger Station has served as a pivotal gateway to the breathtaking Bighorn National Forest. Located deep within the majestic Bighorn Mountains, this location is more than just a forest outpost; it represents a rich history of conservation and a central hub for unparalleled outdoor recreation in North-Central Wyoming. While the name "Burgess Ranger Station" refers primarily to the historic administrative and operational facilities, the general area—known as Burgess Junction—is home to popular campgrounds, a visitor center, and vital trailheads, making it an essential destination for local explorers.

Situated at a high elevation, approximately 7,900 feet, the area offers a refreshingly cool escape during Wyoming's summer months and provides immediate access to alpine meadows, subalpine forests, and some of the most dramatic scenic drives in the state. Historically, the Ranger Station structures themselves, many built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression, stand as rustic, beautiful examples of early Forest Service architecture. This blend of operational necessity, historical significance, and natural beauty makes the Burgess Ranger Station area an iconic and indispensable part of the Wyoming camping and outdoor lifestyle.

The surrounding environment, characterized by lodgepole pines, Engelmann spruce, and sweeping meadows, offers a true taste of the Bighorn National Forest. It's a place where the air is crisp, the nights are cool, and the opportunities for adventure—from wildlife viewing to hiking the vast trail networks—are seemingly endless.

Location and Accessibility

The Burgess Ranger Station is centrally located on the Bighorn Plateau, near the prominent Burgess Junction, a significant intersection within the Bighorn National Forest. It is formally listed with the address Parkman, WY 82838, USA, though its true location is defined by its position along the major scenic byways of the Bighorns.

Accessibility is a key feature of the Burgess area, as it sits near the convergence of two of the region’s most spectacular roads:

Bighorn Scenic Byway (U.S. Highway 14):

This route crosses the mountains from Dayton on the east to Shell on the west, offering a stunning cross-section of the Bighorns. The Burgess Junction is an important stop along this route.

Medicine Wheel Passage (U.S. Highway 14A):

The junction is the starting point for this dramatic route, which climbs steeply and features some of the forest’s most jaw-dropping vistas, including the road to the National Historic Landmark, the Medicine Wheel.

The location is roughly 35 miles west of Dayton, WY, and about 50 miles east of Lovell, WY. Its high-altitude setting makes it primarily a seasonal destination, with services and access typically open from late spring (around Memorial Day) through early fall (around Labor Day), depending heavily on the severe Wyoming mountain weather and snowpack. For local users, its ease of access via paved highways makes it a convenient launchpad for mountain exploration from either the eastern or western side of the Bighorns.

Services Offered

As a key administrative and recreational area within the Bighorn National Forest, the Burgess Ranger Station and the adjacent Burgess Junction facilities offer several essential services for campers, hikers, and travelers. It serves as a central point for obtaining information, permits, and basic necessities for a high-country adventure.

Forest Information and Interpretation:

The nearby Burgess Junction Visitor Center, operated in cooperation with the Forest Service, offers educational displays, maps, guidebooks, and interpretive talks about the area’s geology, flora, fauna, and cultural history.

Campground Access:

Several developed campgrounds, such as Sibley Lake and others, are located in the immediate vicinity, providing designated sites for tents and RVs.

RV Waste Disposal:

A convenient RV Dump Station is located on U.S. Highway 14 just northeast of Burgess Junction, providing a no-fee service for waste disposal and potable water to campers.

Restroom Facilities:

Restroom facilities are available at the Visitor Center and the surrounding recreational sites, often including vault or flush toilets (check specific campground details for availability).

Permit and Pass Sales:

Visitors can often purchase required forest passes, maps, and obtain information on permits for activities like personal firewood gathering from the Visitor Center or Ranger Station office.

Trail and Recreation Information:

Staff assistance is available during operational hours to provide current conditions, safety alerts, and recommendations for the hundreds of miles of nearby hiking, fishing, and OHV trails.

Features / Highlights

The Burgess Ranger Station area is celebrated not just for its administrative role but for the unforgettable recreational and historical features that draw visitors from across Wyoming and beyond.

Gateway to the Medicine Wheel:

The location is the primary access point for the U.S. Forest Service road leading to the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark, an ancient stone structure of profound cultural and spiritual significance.

Historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Architecture:

Several buildings at the Ranger Station, including an office and housing, are notable examples of the rustic architectural style used by the CCC in the 1930s. These log structures illustrate an important chapter in American conservation history.

Prime Wildlife Viewing:

Situated in a flower-filled meadow and surrounded by forest, the junction is an excellent place for observing a variety of Wyoming wildlife, including deer, elk, and numerous bird species. The area is also popular for hunting in the fall.

Access to Major Trail Systems:

The area provides convenient access to a vast network of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and OHV riding, as well as being a hub for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing during the winter months.

High-Altitude Scenery:

Enjoy spectacular views of the Bighorn Mountains, including the Twin Buttes, expansive alpine meadows, and cool, fresh air at nearly 8,000 feet in elevation.

Adjacent to Developed Recreation Sites:

Nearby sites like Sibley Lake offer developed camping, fishing, and picnicking opportunities right off the highway, perfect for families.

Contact Information

For general inquiries about the Burgess Ranger Station area, current conditions, and information on the surrounding Bighorn National Forest, visitors should contact the local Forest Service office.

Address: Parkman, WY 82838, USA (General Area)

Phone: (307) 655-2356 (This is the Ranger Station's listed line and may connect to the Tongue Ranger District Office or be seasonal.)

Mobile Phone: +1 307-655-2356

For more reliable year-round contact and detailed forest information, it is often best to call the main Tongue Ranger District Office in Sheridan, WY, during business hours at (307) 674-2600.

What is worth choosing

Choosing the Burgess Ranger Station area as your basecamp means embracing the quintessential Wyoming high-mountain adventure. What makes this location truly worth choosing is its unrivaled strategic positioning within the Bighorn National Forest. It serves as a necessary service point for the eastern side of the Bighorns and offers immediate, convenient access to some of the most spectacular, high-altitude scenery in the state. For the avid Wyoming outdoors person, its proximity to the trailheads that lead into the Cloud Peak Wilderness and the historic Medicine Wheel is a non-negotiable highlight.

Furthermore, the presence of the Burgess Junction Visitor Center and the Ranger Station means that you have the resources of the U.S. Forest Service close at hand. This is invaluable for checking on fire restrictions, trail conditions, or obtaining vital safety information before venturing into the rugged Bighorns. Campers benefit from nearby developed facilities like the RV Dump Station and numerous campgrounds, offering a level of convenience that facilitates longer stays.

This area is a perfect blend of accessibility, historical interest (thanks to the CCC structures), and pure, unadulterated high-country recreation. If you are a Wyoming local looking for a seasonal escape with cool temperatures, vast wildflower meadows, and immediate access to both scenic drives and deep wilderness exploration, the Burgess Ranger Station area at the heart of the Bighorns is the ideal choice for setting up your mountain adventure.