 Located on the western flank of the Bighorn Mountains, Shell Creek flows through a steep walled canyon. At one point, the water cascades over granite rocks, forming the amazing Shell Falls. Shell Falls is located on the Bighorn National Forest along U.S. Highway 14, approximately 11 miles northeast of Shell, Wyoming. The falls are easily accessible to the public from the highway. The U.S. Forest Service maintains an interpretive center at the site for visitors. The falls most likely formed when water began to erode a soft layer of rocks below a harder layer of rocks. Over time, the constant forces of water slowly eroded the weaker layer below, faster than the harder layer of rocks above, and eventually formed the falls we see today. The water at Shell Falls descends 75 feet down before hitting the channel bed below. Shell Creek and the area surrounding the falls is home to a wide variety of wildlife and plant species. Rainbow and brook trout occupy the creek while larger games such as mule deer and elk roam Shell Canyon. Next time you travel between Burgess Junction and Shell, take the time to stop at the beautiful Shell Falls. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Mae Smith, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.