Devils Tower/Bear Lodge National Monument to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

We left Devils Tower/Bear Lodge a bit after noon, so we were looking for a spot for lunch when we came upon a small rise with a few trees overlooking a beautiful sweep of cropland, forest, and foothills. It made a great picnic site.

Our route took us through Custer National Forest then the Cheyenne and Crow Reservations. We were drawn by a sign for “shakes” just outside the Cheyenne Reservation. The woman working the counter appeared to be Native American. They had a neat sign, basically saying seniors eat free from 11 a.m. -12 noon daily. A box nearby the sign held the suggested donation of $2 - $2.50.

We decided to stop by the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It was a beautiful piece of land and you could really see how the troop movements would be. Yet, it felt so odd to know people died there. The energy was not quiet.

Then began the hunt for a place to sleep. All our resources were not very helpful. We landed at the most logical place, but oh my. Trailer park-esque, with a real trailer park next door for company and a highway for ambiance. The next place we found was less foul, but as Amy said, “I didn’t come all the way out here to listen to a highway.” We finally ended up deciding to just hoof it to Bighorn Canyon, after being assured that they would have openings. Bless that cell phone.

As soon as we made our decision we stopped at the largest town to grab food, figuring (kinda correctly) that there wouldn’t be any food way by Bighorn. We stopped at Crow Agency, and asked at the gas station. After giving Amy the usual “go up the highway to get to the Wendy’s,” someone there suggested the restaurant next door. It was a trailer, set up high, called Little Chief’s Café, with slow meal prep but great food. Plus, they gave fine directions to Bighorn Canyon: “Go through town, past the water tower. Take a left at the end of the road. Drive to the post office, take another left. It’s along that road. It’ll take about an hour.”

Great drive on long roads without speed limits or curve signs.