Big Horn Medicine Wheel

Up in the northern Wyoming high country are the stunning Big Horn Mountains. Snowy peaks with rolling hills, stands of pine and fir and big green meadows that stretch forever. We saw 7 moose in an hour of driving, grazing in the meadows. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous.

We drove up there (without our RV) to visit the Big Horn Medicine Wheel, a sacred, historic and archeological site. It sits atop Medicine Mountain above timberline at 9,642 feet. The 1.5 mile trail to the wheel still has snow over several sections. It was cold (42 degrees) and the wind was howling, but the views were spectacular. From this mountaintop you can see high peaks in the distance and the vastness of the Big Horn Basin.

The Medicine Wheel was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970. It was probably constructed between 1200 and 1700 AD, but they haven’t been able to determine an exact date. It is 80 feet across and has 28 spokes radiating from the center to the circle. This site is sacred to the Native Americans and has been used by many tribes over the years. There are several legends about it.

The Medicine Wheel is surrounded by a fence that has many prayer cloths and bundles attached to it. We walked the perimeter three times and then sat in silence. It is a very powerful place. We shared the solitude with bluebirds and marmots and just a few other humans.