By editor
Carbon County, South of Billings
The Pryor Mountains are a geological anomaly in Montana. Rather than the typical granitic peaks of the Rockies, the Pryors are a massive uplift of Madison limestone, deeply incised by arid canyons. Because they sit on the northern edge of the Bighorn Basin, they harbor a Great Basin desert ecosystem found nowhere else in the state.
Bear Canyon is the premier birding location within this unique range. The arid, rocky slopes and the scattered stands of Utah juniper support species that are exceptionally rare elsewhere in Montana. This is the most reliable place in the state to find the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a tiny, restless bird that flits through the juniper branches. The loud, raucous calls of the Pinyon Jay ring through the canyons, while the Juniper Titmouse forages on the pine cones. In the sheer limestone cliffs, White-throated Swifts slice through the air with astonishing speed.
Visitor Access
The Pryor Mountains are managed primarily by the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service. Access is free and open year-round, though snow can block the higher elevations in winter. Bear Canyon is accessed via a rough, unpaved dirt road that absolutely requires a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle. There are no developed trails or facilities; birding is done by walking the road or hiking up the dry canyon washes.