Shell Falls – Waterfall in Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains
Shell Falls is a 75ft narrow mountain waterfall that tumbles down through Shell Canyon. Shell Falls is located in the Bighorn National Forest and is easily accessible from the highway. Shell Falls is unique in that it was formed by a fault line – one side went up and the other side went down.
Shell Falls Location and Hours:
The Shell Falls Interpretive Site is located directly off US Highway 14, also known as the Bighorn Scenic Byway, about 20 miles from Greybull, Wyoming.
This site is seasonal – it is open 9:30 – 5pm from Memorial Day to mid-September and it is free to visit.
Visiting Shell Falls Interpretive Site
I visited in late September and the site was already closed for the season. The parking area is gated off but there is decent sized gravel area just outside the gate where you can safely pull over and view the falls. Because the site was closed, I couldn’t get very good pictures of Shell Falls – I had to make do with what was accessible to me.
However, if you’re able to visit the interpretive site when it’s open, you’ll find a small museum and gift shop, restrooms and an interpretive nature trail, giving you additional information about Shell Canyon and the falls. You’ll also find viewing platforms for the waterfall – the viewing platforms have a lot of steep stairs. Along the nature trail, you’ll see views of Shell Canyon as well as Brindle Falls waterfall (Brindle Falls is further away, nearly obscured by trees, but you can see it along the nature trail).
This stop will only take you maybe 20 minutes at max, and that’s if you stop and read every sign and do the entire nature trail. If you’re just viewing the falls, this will be a very quick stop along the scenic byway, giving you a break from the winding, steep mountain pass!
Shell Falls Wyoming – Final Thoughts:
Shell Falls itself is beautiful – even though I visited during “off” season and couldn’t see the entire waterfall, this is definitely a spot to bring your camera! However, it’s in the middle of nowhere – it’s in-between Greybull and Sheridan along the mountain pass – if you’re staying in Sheridan, I don’t think I’d make a special trip out here to see this waterfall (that would be about 1 hour, 30 minute one-way drive for a 10 minute viewing of a waterfall).
