Powell · Cody · Big Horn Basin, WY
We Move The Earth So You Can Build On It.
Locally owned, owner-operated dirt work across the Big Horn Basin: driveways, waterlines, septic systems, foundations, grading and land clearing. Heavy iron, straight grades, honest prices.
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Tell us about your project. You will hear back from the operator, not a call center.
Dirt Work Done Right
The Crew The Big Horn Basin Calls When The Grade Has To Be Right
From the first cut to final grade, JH Excavation gets in, does the work, and leaves you a site that drains, compacts and holds up to Wyoming winters.
Building in the Basin isn't like building anywhere else. Alkaline clay-loam soils, gravel benches left behind by the Shoshone River, frost lines that push deep, and wide-open wind all conspire against a sloppy job. A driveway that wasn't crowned turns into a washboard. A waterline set too shallow freezes in January. A pad that wasn't compacted settles and cracks the slab you poured on top of it. We've seen what cutting corners costs, and we don't do it.
JH Excavation Inc. is a Powell-based excavating contractor built on a simple reputation: fast, quality work at fair prices. That line shows up in our reviews because it's how we actually run , a lean, owner-operated outfit where the person quoting your job is the person running the machine. No layers, no runaround, no surprise change orders buried in fine print.
Meet The Operation
What We Do
Full-Service Excavation, One Local Number
Eight core services that cover a project from raw ground to finished grade. One crew, one point of contact, one standard of work.
Driveways & Roads
Gravel drives, private roads & culverts built to shed water and last.
Learn moreWaterlines & Septic
Water service, sewer taps & full septic systems, dug and set right.
Learn moreFoundation Excavation
Basements, footings & building pads dug to grade and compacted.
Learn moreGrading & Site Prep
Rough and finish grading, dirt hauling and lot leveling.
Learn moreDemolition & Land Clearing
Tear-outs, brush, trees and debris hauled off clean.
Learn moreSprinkler & Irrigation
Trenching and install for lawn, pasture and acreage systems.
Learn moreLandscape Preparation
Final grade, topsoil and rock ready for sod, seed or hardscape.
Learn moreConcrete Breaking & Hauling
Concrete breaking, debris removal and clean haul-off.
Learn more
Why JH Excavation
Heavy Iron. Local Roots. Zero Runaround.
Anybody can rent a machine. What you're really hiring is judgment , knowing how deep to trench, how to slope a leach field, when the ground is too wet to compact, and how to read a site before the first bucket of dirt moves. That judgment is the difference between a job that lasts and a callback next spring.
- Owner on the controls. The person who quotes your job runs the iron on it.
- Basin-specific know-how. Clay-loam, gravel benches, deep frost , we build for it.
- Clean, complete work. We grade to drain, compact to spec, and haul the mess off.
- Straight quotes. Clear scope up front, no mystery change orders.
- Locally accountable. We live here. Our name is on it. Word travels fast in a small market.
How It Works
From Phone Call To Final Grade
A straightforward process that keeps you informed and keeps the project moving.
Call & Walk The Site
Tell us what you're building. We'll visit the site, look at access, soils, drainage and utilities, and talk through the plan.
Clear Written Quote
You get a plain-English scope and price , what we're doing, how, and what it costs. No vague estimates that balloon later.
We Move Dirt
The crew shows up when we say, works efficiently, and keeps you posted. Locates called, permits respected, grades held.
Walk-Through & Cleanup
We grade out, compact, haul off debris and walk the finished job with you. You approve it before we roll off.
Built For The Basin
Excavation That Understands Wyoming Ground
Good excavation is invisible when it is done right and impossible to ignore when it is done wrong. It is the layer nobody sees once the driveway is graveled or the slab is poured, and it is the layer that decides whether all of it lasts. In the Big Horn Basin, that starts with respecting what is under your feet.
Basin Soils & Compaction
Alkaline clay-loam, gravel benches and mixed alluvial ground each behave differently under a machine and under a load. We read the soil before we dig and compact fill so pads and driveways hold instead of settling and cracking.
Deep Frost, Set Right
Park County winters drive the frost line down hard. We bury waterlines and sewer laterals deep enough to beat it, bed the pipe correctly, and backfill so the trench never settles into a scar across your yard.
Drainage That Works
Snowmelt and hard rain find every low spot and lazy grade. We build positive drainage into everything: crowned drives, pads that slope away from buildings, and swales that carry water where you want it.
None of this is glamorous. It is dirt, water, gravel and grade. But it is the foundation, literally, of every project we touch, and it is why customers across the Basin keep our number. When the grade has to be right, you do not want the cheapest machine in the county. You want the crew that knows the ground.
A Closer Look
Every Service, Explained
Here's what each core service actually involves , and why doing it right matters on Wyoming ground.
Driveways & Roads
A driveway is the first thing you use every day and the first thing that fails when it's built wrong. We strip organics, establish a crowned or sloped subgrade that sheds water, lay and compact a proper gravel section, and shape the ditches and culverts that keep runoff moving. Whether it's a short residential approach or a long ranch road, the goal is the same: a surface that drains, holds up to loaded trucks, and doesn't wash out or washboard the first wet season. More on driveways & roads →
Waterlines & Septic Systems
Underground utilities are unforgiving work , if it's wrong, you're digging it up. We trench and set water service lines, sewer laterals and complete septic systems: tank, distribution and leach field, bedded and backfilled to hold. In Park County, most rural systems require a permitted, engineered design; we install to that design and to Wyoming's Chapter 25 standards, deep enough to beat the frost and sloped for reliable flow. More on waterlines & septic →
Foundation Excavation
The slab, stem wall or basement is only as good as the hole and the pad beneath it. We dig to grade, keep walls safe and true, and build compacted, engineered pads that won't settle under the load. Over-dig, under-compact or ignore the soils here and you get cracks , so we take the dirt seriously before anyone pours a footing. More on foundation excavation →
Grading & Site Prep
Rough grading, finish grading, cut-and-fill, lot leveling and dirt hauling , this is the shaping that turns raw or rough ground into a buildable, drainable site. We move material where it needs to go, establish the grades and slopes the project calls for, and set positive drainage so water leaves the building, not the other way around. More on grading & site prep →
Demolition & Land Clearing
Before you build, something usually has to come down or come out. We handle structure tear-outs, concrete and slab removal, brush and tree clearing, and lot cleanup , then haul the debris off so you're handed clean, workable ground. Done carefully around utilities, property lines and anything you want to keep. More on demolition & land clearing →
Sprinkler & Irrigation Trenching
Lawns, pastures and acreage all run better on water that's plumbed right. We trench and install irrigation and sprinkler mainlines cleanly, at the right depth, with tidy backfill that leaves your yard looking like we were barely there. Great as a standalone job or bundled with landscape prep on a new build. More on sprinkler systems →
Landscape Preparation
The final grade decides whether your sod takes, your seed grows and your yard drains. We shape final contours, spread and level topsoil, and prep rock and hardscape beds so your landscaper , or you , can finish strong. It's the quiet step that makes the visible work look good. More on landscape prep →
Concrete Breaking, Debris Removal & Hauling
Old slabs, cracked drives, footings and rubble don't move themselves. We break concrete, load and haul debris, and remove dirt and spoil from your site , leaving a clean pad ready for the next phase. Straightforward, heavy work that keeps a project moving. More on breaking & hauling →
Recent Work
Real Jobs, Real Ground
A look at driveways, utilities, septic systems and mass excavation across the Basin.
Where We Work
Powell-Based, Basin-Wide Coverage
Home base in Powell, on the road across Park County, Big Horn County and the wider Big Horn Basin.
JH Excavation runs out of Powell and covers the towns and rural acreages across the northern Big Horn Basin. Whether you're on a lot in town, a subdivision on the edge of Cody, or forty acres out past Ralston, we bring the machine to you.
Because we're local, mobilization is quick and rates stay reasonable , you're not paying to haul iron in from three counties away. If you're not sure whether you're in our range, just call. If we can get a machine there, we'll take a look.
What Folks Say
A 5.0 Rating Isn't An Accident
"Fast, quality work at great prices."
JH Excavation holds a perfect 5.0-star rating across 32 Google reviews , earned one job at a time, from neighbors who watched the work go in.
In a small market, reputation is everything. We'd rather do fewer jobs and do them right than chase volume and leave a trail of callbacks. Read the reviews yourself, then let's talk about your project.
Read All 32 ReviewsGood Questions
Excavation FAQs
What areas does JH Excavation serve?
We're based in Powell and work throughout the Big Horn Basin , Powell, Cody, Ralston, Garland, Lovell, Byron, Cowley, Deaver and the rural acreages across Park County and Big Horn County. If you're nearby and not sure, call (307) 689-3369 and we'll let you know.
Do you handle both residential and larger site work?
Yes. We do everything from a homeowner's driveway, septic system or sprinkler trench to building pads, mass excavation, private roads and full site prep for new construction. Same crew, same standards, scaled to the job.
Can you dig and set a septic system for a new build?
Absolutely , septic and waterlines are core work for us. Wyoming small wastewater systems in unincorporated Park County require a permit and a designed system through the county Planning & Zoning department. We install to the approved design and Chapter 25 standards. See our Waterlines & Septic page for details.
Do you work in winter?
We do. Frozen ground is tougher, but utility work and excavation don't always stop for the season. Several jobs in our gallery were dug in the snow. We'll tell you honestly if conditions mean a job should wait.
How do I get a quote?
Call or text (307) 689-3369, or send your details through our contact form. For most jobs we'll want to see the site , access, soils, drainage and utilities all affect the plan , then you'll get a clear written scope and price.
Do you call utility locates before digging?
Every time. We honor Wyoming 811 locates before any trenching or excavation. It protects you, us and the neighborhood, and it's simply how a professional crew operates.
How soon can you start on my project?
It depends on the season and how booked we are, but because we are local and owner-operated we move quickly, often faster than crews hauling equipment in from other counties. Call (307) 689-3369 and you will get an honest timeline for your job, not a stall. For time-sensitive work like a failed septic or a build waiting on the dirt phase, tell us and we will do our best to get to it fast.
Do you handle both small jobs and large site work?
Yes. No job is too small to be worth doing right, and none of our equipment is too big for a serious site. A single culvert, a homeowner driveway, a full new-construction dirt package or a ranch access road all get the same crew and the same standard, simply scaled to fit the work in front of us.
How do your prices work?
Straightforward. After we understand the site, you get a clear written scope and price in plain language, what we are doing, how, and what it costs, with no vague estimates that balloon once the work starts and no surprise change orders buried in fine print. Our reviews mention fair prices for a reason: we quote honestly and stand behind the number.
Do you give free quotes?
Yes. Reach out by phone, text or the form and we will talk through your project at no cost. For most jobs we will want to see the site first, because access, soils, drainage and utilities all affect the plan, then you get a clear written quote you can actually plan around.
Who We Work With
One Crew, Every Kind Of Project
Excavation touches almost every project that starts with bare ground. We scale the same standard up or down to fit the job in front of us.
Homeowners & Acreage
New gravel driveways, failing septic systems, sprinkler mainlines, shop and shed pads, ponds, and final grade before sod. The everyday work we do best across Powell and the surrounding acreages.
Builders & Contractors
The dirt phase of new construction: clearing and stripping, basements and footings, compacted pads, driveways cut in, and water, sewer and utility runs trenched. Grades held, schedule kept.
Ranchers & Rural
Private access roads, culverts and crossings, stock ponds and dugouts, corral and arena grading, and general land shaping. Wide-open ground and real material to move.
Realtors & Developers
Making a lot buildable or a property sellable: demolition, hauling off junk and concrete, rough grading a raw parcel, or fixing drainage that scares off buyers.
Iron That Fits The Job
Matching the right machine to the work is half the battle. We bring excavators, loaders and compaction equipment sized to the task, nimble enough for a tight residential lot and heavy enough to move serious material on an open site. Trenching, digging, backfilling, grading, breaking, loading and hauling are all handled in house, so you coordinate one crew instead of chasing three. And because we are based in Powell, getting that iron to your site stays fast and affordable.
Let's Move Some Dirt
Ready To Break Ground?
Tell us about your driveway, septic, foundation or site prep. You'll talk to the person who runs the machine , and get a straight answer on cost and timing.