Paddling near Fort Smith, MT

Fort Smith, Montana sits at the base of Yellowtail Dam in Big Horn County, serving as the northern gateway to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The dominant water here is Bighorn Lake — known locally as Yellowtail — a 71-mile-long reservoir carved between canyon walls that rise 1,000 to 2,500 feet. Kayaking and canoeing the canyon's calm, cliff-lined waters is the defining paddling experience in this area.