[3] Within the forest is the Cloud Peak Wilderness area in which no motorized or mechanical equipment is allowed.

There are 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of trails in the forest, along with 32 improved campgrounds, lodges, and three scenic vehicular byways.

U.S. Route 14 in Wyoming, also known as the Bighorn Scenic Byway, crosses the middle of the 30-mile (48 km) wide forest.

Numerous lakes are found within the forest and most are naturally stocked with trout and at least 100 other fish species.

Meadow Lark Lake is a popular recreation area created by the construction of a dam built by Company 841 of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936.

Water quality sampling from the lakes shows the highest acid rain deposition of any mountain chain in the Rockies.