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Honeycombs

Written in collaboration with Larry Mehlhaff and Tim Rockhold
(010‑221)

Highlights
The stunning badlands of the Honeycombs is one of the most spectacular areas in Wyoming. The area mesmerizes its visitors with a kaleidoscope of pastel orange hills, tan rock mushrooms, and red-, white-, and purple-striped cliffs. Situated to the west of Castle Gardens, the area exemplifies the biblical notion of wilderness as an area for contemplation and spiritual renewal, even to the non-devout. Sagebrush and grasslands are interspersed through the array of unusual pinnacles, spires, and buttes, while greasewood and rabbitbrush grow along the winding canyon lands. With only 7‑10 inches of rainfall per year, this area is a pristine high desert badlands landscape at its best.

Wilderness Qualities
Opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation are truly outstanding. Visitors may lose themselves in a maze of vivid badlands or watch the full moon rise over a place that looks much like a moonscape.

The Honeycombs provide year‑round and crucial winter range for 100 mule deer, and 200 to 300 pronghorn antelope, as well as nesting areas and crucial winter habitat for sage grouse. Golden eagles, great‑horned owls, and other raptors also nest in the area and forage there year‑round (Ritter 1991). Bobcats and coyotes roam the Honeycombs, as well. The black-footed ferret, a federally listed endangered species, was found in the area in 1974 (WNDD, 1993). The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has found the area to possess outstanding natural qualities and superb wildlife habitat and has recommended it for wilderness designation.

In addition to dramatic scenery and unique geologic features, this area is known for fossil deposits of large Tertiary mammals and reptiles. An archaeologic survey has not been conducted in the area, but scrapers, points, and other stone artifacts are commonly found.