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Back Paint Rock Creek Canyons Written in collaboration with Dave Baker, Sterline and Sheri Evans.
Location and Access Bordering the Bighorn National Forest on the west side, Paint Rock and South Paint Rock Creek Canyon areas are located in Washakie County 5.5 miles northeast of Hyattville. Public access to the Paint Rock Canyon area has become a concern of recreationists since 1970. Although the area is not landlocked by private lands, public entry would have to be made through steep terrain (BLM, 1978). Access is from Hyattville to the Cold Springs Road to the Lone Tree Trail through the Hyatt Ranch and access from US Forest Service is abundant with at least 6 trails leading to the area. HighlightsThe Paint Rock and South Paint Rock Creek areas offer beautiful open, slanting meadows, leading to steep canyon walls of the Paint Rock Creek Canyons. The area is excellent habitat for mule deer, elk, songbirds, raptors includes great wild fisheries. The Citizens' Proposal combines the two areas by adding State land to the Proposal and offering a complete ecosystem for protection. The areas are adjacent to the Bighorn National Forest and within 8 miles of the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area. Joining the Paint Rock Creek Canyon areas to the Cloud Peak Wilderness would diversity, expand and add to the wilderness recreation experience of the Bighorn National Forest. Wilderness Qualities Paint Rock Canyon is a large narrow canyon that cuts through the lower west slopes of the Bighorn Mountains. The canyon begins where Paint Rock Basin narrows 1.5 miles below the Bighorn National Forest boundary. The canyon extends westerly for nearly five miles. It enters Paint Rock Valley just above the Hyatt Ranch. South Paint Rock Creek, a tributary, completes the canyonland ecosystem. The rims of the canyons tower 400 to 1000 feet above Paint Rock and South Paint Rock Creeks. Numerous canyons of varying size intersect the main canyons. Most of the canyon is cut into limestone rock of the Madison and Big Horn Formations, resulting in cliffs and extremely steep, near vertical slopes. The physical nature of the canyon and its elevation present an vegetative ecosystem from the stream banks dominated with grasses, woody plants, and shrubs to the rim of the canyons exhibiting mountain mahogany and sagebrush. Conifers, mahogany, and sage are found on the canyon's south rim. This magnificent example of canyons on the west face of the Big Horn Mountain holds unique habitat for flora species. With its varied soils from redbeds to limestone cliffs, many rare and sensitive plants are found in the area including: Williams waferparsnip, soft aster, Nuttall Townsend-daisy, Brandegee's Jacob's-ladder, Branched fleabane and Hyattville milkvetch (WNDD, 1993). The area includes an outstanding trout fishery particularly Yellowstone cutthroat trout, which provides the opportunity for the most important recreational activity undertaken in the canyon. The area is managed as a wild trout fishery by the Wyoming Game and Fish and is used to collect stock of the Yellowstone cutthroat. Habitat is also provided for Bighorn sheep, coyote, eagles, numerous species of small mammals, reptiles, and songbirds. The canyon is an important wintering area for elk and deer. The Bald eagle, listed as an endangered species, and the Northern goshawk, a candidate for federal protection, are found in the Paint Rock and South Paint Rock Creek areas. Also sighted in the area is the sensitive species, the common loon and the long-legged myotis (WNDD, 1993). | ||||