Sign affixed to Armpit Inn
“Do you want to go see Armpit?”
“Armpit?”
“Yup.”
Armpit, WY is located in the northern foothills of the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. Once a mining community, the tongue-in-cheek name belies its beautiful setting among the limestone boulders and junipers that make up its landscape. All that remains is a small, one-room cabin, an even smaller bunkhouse, and a well decorated outhouse. A base camp of sorts for spelunkers exploring the many caves in the area, Armpit is open to travelers and explorers seeking shelter from unpredictable Wyoming weather.
Big Horn Canyon and the Pryor Mountains in the distance
Our visit had none of the harsh weather usually seen on January days in the Cowboy State. The sunny, cloudless skies transformed the surrounding vista into a scene from a C.M. Russell painting. The rough and rocky road from nearby Lovell displayed many fantastic views of Big Horn Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and southern Montana’s Pryor Mountain range.
We spotted numerous deer and countless cottontail rabbits that call this area home. We also caught a glimpse of a coyote as he raced away from our approaching vehicle. We had hoped to see wintering elk on our visit, but were disappointed in our efforts to find them. Other residents of the area, which we also failed to find, include antelope, sage grouse, and chukar partridge, not to mention the always difficult to find mountain lions, bobcats, and bears.
Natural Trap Cave
After our short stop at the Armpit, we detoured to Natural Trap Cave. The Natural Trap is a 15 foot wide hole in the earth with a drop of 80+ feet waiting those critters unfortunate enough to fall through. For centuries, the trap collected victims as they passed through the area unaware of the deadly fall awaiting them. Fortunately for modern critters, including human visitors, the cave now sports an iron grate over top to prevent accidents.
Scientists studying the cave and the prehistoric remains of trapped creatures have discovered a wealth of information about Wyoming’s original inhabitants. A number of scientific excavations have turned up fossils such as camel, lion, short-faced bear, collared lemming, cheetah, and mammoth. Over 30,000 different specimens, including flora and fauna, have been gathered from the trap over the years, some as old as 20,000 years!
Sunset over Bighorn Canyon
As the sun faded late in the day, we decided it best to make our way home. Armpit and Natural Trap Cave are not usually recommended as a getaway destination in January, but our taking advantage of the mild winter and lack of snow proved to be a great opportunity for us to get out of the house and relieve some of cabin fever we’d caught over the holidays. May you too, find your getaway and enjoy your time in the outdoors!
-Ryan
