Round Trip Distance: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 9521 - 9636 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 1 hr. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Big Horn Medicine Wheel
Fee: none
Attractions: National Historic Landmark
Medicine Wheel is a National Historic Landmark that is located east of Lovell, Wyoming in the Bighorn National Forest. According to Crow and Blackfeet histories the stone circle was built and visited by figures on vision quests and is venerated by modern tribes as a sacred place for prayer and fasting.
For turn-by-turn directions enter "Big Horn Medicine Wheel Trailhead" into your driving app. The turnoff is 31.3 miles east of Lovell on Alt 14 where it is another 1.9 miles up a gravel road to the trailhead. The very scenic route Alt 14 with its sharp turns and steep grades is closed in the winter.
From the parking area the trail passes some restrooms and a Forest Service shack where a Ranger comes out to greet visitors and fill them in on the 1.3 mile one-way trek up to the Medicine wheel.
For the entire length of the hike the road serves as the trail. The road is used only by Forest Service personnel. Every one else has to walk.
While you are on Medicine Mountain you might catch a glimpse of a fox that is a bit of a local celebrity. It had sat down right in the middle of the road in front of us until we were almost upon it when it moved over to the shoulder out of the way.
Near the mid point of the hike, at a saddle in the ridge, there is a rest stop with some information kiosks.
Another kiosk is located at the Medicine Wheel and across the road is another restroom.
The cairn in the middle of the wheel was apparently built before the spokes, outer circle, and other features. The outer ring represents the universe and the continuous circle of life, death, and rebirth. The quadrants represent the four directions. The spokes have astronomical alignments which include the winter/summer solstices and spring/winter equinoxes. Archeologists classify medicine wheels under the term petroform. The one on Medicine Mountain is among hundreds that have been identified.
Colorful ribbons and several medicine bags where hanging off of the rope fence that surrounds the Medicine Wheel on the day that we made our visit.
As you can probably tell from the photos Medicine Mountain was enveloped in clouds on this day. It was raining the entire time we were there. To protect our camera all the photos were taken from beneath an umbrella that we were carrying. Afterwards we discovered that the lens tulip on the camera got twisted out of place by bumping the umbrella causing many of the photos to be vignetted. It shows up in the photo of the kiosk at the Medicine Wheel.
At its very remote location you have to pretty much be prepared for whatever the weather might offer. A continual stream of visitors were coming and going at the Medicine Wheel even in the rain. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
At its very remote location you have to pretty much be prepared for whatever the weather might offer. A continual stream of visitors were coming and going at the Medicine Wheel even in the rain. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
