Tongue River Canyon Trail to Close Temporarily for Rockslide Repairs

A popular trail in Tongue River Canyon will temporarily close while crews repair damage caused by an April rockslide.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Bighorn National Forest will close Tongue River Canyon Trail 002 and its associated trailhead beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026.

The closure is expected to remain in effect until early October or until the work is completed.

U.S. Forest Service contractors will repair the trail tread, remove rubble and use blasting to widen the damaged portion of the trail. Crews will also shuttle equipment between the trailhead and the work site throughout the project.

Although Trail 002 is located within Bighorn National Forest, visitors reach it through the Tongue River Canyon Public Access Area, which is managed on Wyoming Game and Fish Commission property.

“For public safety, and to expedite repair work, the decision was made to close the trailhead for the entirety of the project,” said Nathan Lindsey, Game and Fish Sheridan Region habitat and access coordinator.

Some portions of the public access area will remain available during construction. Visitors will still be able to reach the designated camping sites in the canyon. Fishing access along the Tongue River downstream from the trailhead will also remain open.

However, upstream fishing access from the trailhead will be closed for the duration of the project.

Closure signs will be installed at the trailhead and the forest boundary on Sept. 10. Officials said the signs will be removed and public access restored as soon as the trail repairs are finished.

Visitors planning a trip to Tongue River Canyon during September should observe all posted closures and avoid entering the construction area.

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