Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains Still Healing From The Elk Fire

In 2024, wildfires were, well, wild. Hundreds of thousands of acres of Wyoming burnt. One of those significant fires was the Elk Fire in the Bighorn Mountains.

The Elk Fire consumed 98,352 acres after a lightning strike sparked the flames. Even though the fire was technically contained by October 10, it wasn't declared officially out until January 2025.

Wildfires are no joke.

Luckily, a great team of firefighting agencies battled the fire and successfully put it out, but adventure seekers, campers, and hikers will continue to feel the effects of the fire throughout 2025.

The U.S. Forest Service has announced that many trails in the Elk Fire area will be closed until at least the end of 2025. The eight trails affected are all located in Sheridan County and are closed due to the increased risk of debris flows.

This map shows the areas where the closed trails are located.

According to the USGS.gov website, debris flows are fast-moving, dangerous landslides that move at a high rate of speed and destroy most objects that get in the way. They can move as fast as 35 mph and are strong enough to carry large objects like boulders, trees, and even vehicles.

Burned areas are susceptible to debris flows because the fire destroys vegetation, which helps to stabilize the soil. When snowmelt and summer rainstorms occur, nothing holds the soil together, allowing the rushing water to move through and carry the debris.

The videos below shows how quickly a debris flow can escalate and will help you understand why it's so important to close the trails in the scarred Elk Fire area.