Bighorn Mountains Wyoming

From July 5 we spent about two weeks near the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming.  Our time was divided between campgrounds in Sheridan, WY and Buffalo, WY.

Out of Sheridan, we drove the Bighorn Scenic Byway which follows highway 14 over the mountains from Ranchester to Greybull, WY.  This route takes you quickly up the east mountain face, with many switchbacks and hairpin curves. Granite Pass, at 8860 feet, takes you over the top through Cloud Peak Wilderness Area. Then, it's downhill through Shell Canyon.  We stopped to see Shell Falls along the way.

Another day, we drove out of Buffalo and followed Cloud Peak Scenic Byway.  This route follows highway 16, across Powder Pass at 9666 feet, then down through Ten Sleep Canyon. We had lunch at the little town of Ten Sleep.  On the way back, we diverted our drive to experience Crazy Woman Canyon...down hill, on a single lane dirt and rocky road, along rushing streams, to the canyon floor where huge rocks nearly blocked the way, then out into a rolling grassland.  It was a bit scary, but a neat experience!

These scenic drives were done with the car. RV travel is not recommended on hwy 14, especially on hwy 14a which diverts at Burgess Junction.  All RV's and vehicles towing anything are met by a large yellow sign warning of the 10% grades you will experience. RV travel on hwy 16 is doable, as there are pull-outs.  One is not reassured, though, when met with a "runaway truck ramp 3 miles" sign along the way!