Dry Canyon Valley in Ten Sleep — Online Web Camera
Where Ten Sleep and Dry Canyon Valley Are Located
Ten Sleep is a tiny settlement in the north-central part of Wyoming, lost among the endless plains and foothills. If you are watching this web camera online, you are seeing one of the most untouched corners of the American West. The town lies at the western foot of the Bighorn Mountain Range, in the so-called Bighorn Basin — a vast intermontane depression that stretches across the entire northern part of Wyoming. Highway 16, which runs through Ten Sleep, connects this remote area with the rest of the state.
Dry Canyon Valley is one of numerous side valleys cutting into the slopes of the Bighorn Mountains. From a geological perspective, this is a classic canyon with nearly vertical walls, whose depth in some sections reaches over 300 meters. The Ten Sleep web camera is positioned so that the entire breadth of this valley fits into the frame — from the nearby pastures to the distant mountain ridges.
Geology of the Bighorn Mountains and the Origin of the Canyon
The Bighorn Mountains are not just a picturesque backdrop for the stream. This is a geological phenomenon that formed over tens of millions of years. The range was formed as a result of the Laramide orogeny — a large-scale tectonic event of the late Cretaceous and Paleogene periods, when ancient rocks were uplifted and bent into giant arches. This is why the slopes here are so steep and the rock layers are exposed in all their glory.
The Bighorn River, which carved the canyon, created characteristic entrenched meanders — sinuous bends cut into the bedrock. These meanders are evidence of how the river gradually deepened its channel while the surrounding landscape was rising due to tectonic processes. In the canyon area, one can observe Pennsylvanian sandstone — yellowish-gray and white strata that form the distinctive appearance of the rocky walls.
In 2015, a massive sinkhole was discovered in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area — a significant geological formation that serves as a reminder that landscape-forming processes continue to this day.
History of the Name and Indigenous Peoples
The name Ten Sleep sounds mysterious, and there is a specific explanation for it. Translated from English, it means "ten sleeps" or "ten nights' rest." This name is tied to the fact that the settlement was located exactly ten days' journey between two main camps of the Sioux people — an intermediate point where travelers would stop to rest. It was an important landmark on the map of indigenous peoples long before the appearance of Europeans here.
The region of Wyoming and the Bighorn Mountains was historically the territory of many indigenous peoples. The Shoshone, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Ute, Lakota, and Crow — all of them left their mark on the history of these lands. The Crow people, who in their own language call the Bighorn Mountains Basawaxaawúua ("our mountains") or Iisaxpúatahchee Isawaxaawúua ("bighorn sheep mountains"), consider this territory sacred.
Today, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho reside on the Wind River Reservation, located in the historic borderland region between the cultures of the Great Basin and the Great Plains. Modern roads and highways of Wyoming, including routes to Ten Sleep, in many places follow the centuries-old hunting and trade trails of Native Americans.
Ranches and Agriculture in the Bighorn Basin
Ten Sleep is a genuine ranching community, where life still revolves around cattle and sheep farming. Operating ranches spread out around the town, where herds of cattle and sheep graze. The Bighorn Basin has historically been the center of Wyoming's cattle industry, and this is not just a tribute to tradition — it is the economic foundation of the region.
In the foreground of the camera, fenced pastures with characteristic wooden posts and wire fencing are visible — a typical element of the western landscape. These fences are not decorative: they mark the boundaries of private property and protect the grazing lands. The green meadows you see in the stream are the forage base for local ranches.
In the distance, at the foot of the mountains, small buildings and farmsteads can be made out. These are not museum exhibits, but real residential and utility buildings where people live and work year-round, despite the harsh climate and remoteness from major cities.
Climate and Nature of Wyoming
The climate in the Ten Sleep area is semi-arid, with annual precipitation of less than 26 centimeters. This means the landscape changes significantly depending on the season: in spring and early summer, the slopes are covered in greenery, and by autumn the grass burns out, and the valley takes on golden-brown tones. In winter, snow falls here, which lies on the slopes of the Bighorn Mountains until spring.
The vegetation in the frame reflects altitudinal zonation. In the foreground — meadow grasses and shrubs. On the hillsides grow deciduous trees, predominantly cottonwoods, which prefer moist areas along streams. Higher up begins the zone of coniferous forests — pines, spruces, and firs covering the mountain slopes all the way to the treeline.
The mountain range in the background is the eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains, where forested areas alternate with rocky outcrops of bedrock. This combination creates that dramatic landscape that makes this Wyoming web camera so appealing to watch.
Tourism and Attractions of the Region
Ten Sleep and its surroundings are the gateway to the Bighorn National Forest, one of the oldest national forests in the United States. Lovers of hiking, fishing, hunting, and simply those who want to see the real Wild West without tourist gloss come here. Ten Sleep Canyon is famous for its rock formations and is a popular rock climbing destination.
The Bighorn Basin is rich in geothermal springs. Hot springs are located in the vicinity of Ten Sleep, where locals and tourists come year-round. The Ten Sleep River, flowing through the canyon, attracts trout fishing enthusiasts.
For those interested in history, the region offers many traces of the past — from petroglyphs of indigenous peoples to the ruins of old ranches and forts. Highway 16, which runs through Ten Sleep, is itself a scenic route, especially the section through the pass in the Bighorn Mountains.
What You Can See on the Camera
This Ten Sleep live camera broadcasts a direct view of Dry Canyon Valley in real time. The camera is mounted on an elevation, providing a panoramic perspective from the nearby pastures to the distant mountain ranges.
In the foreground — green meadows and pastures fenced with wooden posts and wire fencing. This is a typical element of the Wyoming western landscape, where ranches neighbor wilderness. In the middle of the frame, groups of cottonwoods are visible — deciduous trees that grow on hillsides and along watercourses. Next to them are coniferous species characteristic of the Bighorn foothills.
In the background rises a mountain range with forested slopes covered in coniferous forests. In places, the forests give way to rocky areas — exposed bedrock that forms the dramatic relief of the Bighorn Mountains. In the distance, at the foot of the mountains, small buildings and farmsteads can be made out — evidence that even in such a remote place, people live and work.
The sky above the valley is a character in its own right in this stream. Clouds and sun constantly change the lighting, and the same landscape looks completely different depending on the weather. On clear days, the mountains seem close and sharp; on overcast days — mysterious and hazy. This Ten Sleep web camera allows you to observe these changes in real time without leaving your home.
