Sheep Lakes

Sheep Lakes is a roadside wildlife-viewing area in Horseshoe Park, a few miles from Fall River Entrance. Shallow water and open meadow sit below forested mountain slopes, and you can take in the broad valley without a hike. Stop if you like scanning and waiting; keep driving if you want an active walk. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Bighorn sheep come down from the mountainsides to lick nutrient-rich mud. Elk, coyotes and ground squirrels are also seen here, and moose are often reported. Early or late visits are a common wildlife-watching strategy, but there is no reliable schedule for sightings.

Ancient glaciers carved the meadow. The lakes take their name from the bighorn sheep that descend to the mud. Even without animals, the water, open grassland and enclosing peaks give this stop a clear scenic payoff.

The viewing area is open year-round; the separate Sheep Lakes Information Station operates seasonally, roughly mid-May to mid-August. The annual elk rut draws extra visitors, so arrive early for parking. There is no restroom at the viewpoint; the nearest is west of the lot at the Lawn Lake trailhead. Keep your distance from wildlife and never approach or feed it; that is the law.

For a landscape photo, place a patch of lake in the foreground and leave room for the ridges around Horseshoe Park. If animals are out, a telephoto lens helps; the main view is worth a stop even without a close wildlife shot.