Sheep Mountain Springs
Sheep Mountain Springs flows at 70 degrees Fahrenheit in Big Horn County at 4,101 feet elevation, accessible via a 386-meter walk from roads in the Bighorn Basin where the water runs just 22 degrees above the 48-degree annual average.
The spring emerges in the badlands topography of the northern Bighorn Basin where eroded sedimentary formations create colorful exposed rock layers. At 4,101 feet on the basin floor, the landscape receives only 10 inches of precipitation and 19 inches of snowfall annually, supporting sagebrush grassland and scattered juniper. Sheep Mountain rises to the south as a prominent anticline exposing Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. The spring's location in this arid environment reflects fracture-controlled groundwater discharge from deeper warm aquifers.
Limited historical documentation exists for this spring. The name references the nearby Sheep Mountain geologic feature, a significant fold structure in the Bighorn Basin. Current status reflects the spring's position on lands without federal protection designation, likely private or state ownership.
Visit year-round as the low elevation and mild 48-degree average temperature permit access in most seasons. Spring and fall offer comfortable conditions; summer heat in the basin can exceed 90 degrees. The 386-meter walk from roads requires no special equipment. Five Springs Falls Campground in the Bighorn National Forest lies 26 kilometers south at higher elevation with cooler conditions.
Is Sheep Mountain Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
Five Springs Falls Campground provides an excellent opportunity for camping, hiking, picnicking, and sightseeing. The elevation ranges from 6,520 feet at the campground to 7,240 feet at the forest boundary. This area offers breathtaking views of northern Bighorn Basin with a panoramic view of the Bighorn, Pryor, and Absaroka Mountains. Wildlife in the area include deer, elk, moose, black bear, and mountain lion.The lower loop of the campground contains 9 campsites with tent pads, fire rings,...