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The Atlas/Wyoming/Burgess Junction Visitor Center

Burgess Junction Visitor Center

Wyoming
Region
Rest area
Stop type
Standalone stop
Atlas

The crossroads hub of the Bighorn Mountains where US-14 and US-14A meet at over 8,000 ft, in Bighorn National Forest. The Forest Service visitor center offers exhibits on Bighorn wildlife and history, interpretive trails with sweeping mountain views, restrooms, and a small store. The adjacent Bear Lodge Resort provides dining and lodging. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

// The stop

Burgess Junction sits where US-14 and US-14A diverge at over 8,000 feet in Bighorn National Forest — and that fork is genuinely the reason most riders pull over. One route drops west through Shell Canyon on the gentler Bighorn Scenic Byway; the other climbs toward Medicine Wheel Passage on 14A. Neither choice is wrong, but they're different enough that it's worth pausing here to decide rather than discovering mid-descent that you picked the wrong one for your gear or your group.

The Forest Service visitor center is a day-use facility with an exhibit room, display room, and video room covering the natural and cultural history of the surrounding mountains. A self-guided interpretive trail leaves from the site, and flush toilets and potable water are available — real amenities at this elevation. The adjacent Bear Lodge Resort provides dining and lodging for riders who want more than a stretch stop. The center operates seasonally, roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day, with hours dependent on weather and staffing.

Wildlife presence in the area is worth mentioning. The Forest Service notes that moose and deer appear regularly along this stretch, with elk sightings less frequent but not unusual — so watch the road margins, especially early and late in the day. Weather at this elevation shifts quickly, and afternoon thunderstorms are common through the summer months.

// Why riders stop

The natural decision point when riding the Bighorn loop — US-14A's hairpin Medicine Wheel Passage meets the gentler US-14 Shell Canyon route here. Stop to pick your line, grab snacks at Bear Lodge, and take in the 8,000-ft air before descending either side of the Bighorns.

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