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NO MATTER WHERE YOU’RE HEADED, IT WON’T BE HARD TO TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE ROUTE Find interactive itineraries at TravelWyoming.com/map. SALT TO STONE See p. 68 for SALT TO STONE regional information. BIG SPRING SCENIC BACKWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/2466.html • Start/End: Kemmerer & Cokeville on WY 233 • 68 miles, allow 3 hours, open mid-June–late Sept./early Oct. See the tracks and wagon ruts left behind by early pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail. An improved Forest Service road, four-wheel drive is recommended. BRIDGER VALLEY HISTORIC BYWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/2342.html • Start/End: I-80 exit 34 near Fort Bridger • 20-mile loop, allow 40 minutes, open year-round This byway area was a crossroads for the California/ Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, Pony Express Route, Transcontinental Railroad and Lincoln Highway. CENTENNIAL SCENIC BYWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/2052.html • Start/End: Pinedale, Jackson & Dubois on US 26/287 & US 26/89/191 • 161 miles, allow 4 hours, open year-round Along rivers and past the magnificent Teton Range, this byway follows the routes set by several rivers through the spectacular mountains of western Wyoming. FLAMING GORGE - GREEN RIVER BASIN SCENIC BYWAY flaminggorgecountry.com/Flaming-Gorge-Green-River-Basin-Scenic-Byway-WY • Start/End: Green River or Rock Springs on I-80 • 160-mile loop, allow 3 hours, partial portions open year-round, with US 191 from Rock Springs to Dutch John This byway is the beginning of the spectacular red rock country of the Green River-Colorado River drainage basin which runs clear to the Grand Canyon. MIRROR LAKE SCENIC BYWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/2174.html • Start/End: Evanston & Kama, UT, on WY 150 & UT 150 • 78 miles, allow 3 hours, partial portions open year-round, with winter closures north of the Wyoming state line Through the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, see sagebrush flats, aspen and coniferous forests, grassy meadows, alpine tundra, lakes, streams and wetlands. MUDDY CREEK HISTORIC BACKWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/2341.html • Start/End: Fort Bridger & Piedmont on Rtes. 219, 217, 212, 202 & 173 • 25 miles, allow 30 minutes, open year-round but not recommended in winter Back roads lead you to the ghost town of Muddy Creek, one of the most famous camping spots of the Western migration (some gravel portions exist). STAR VALLEY SCENIC BYWAY starvalleychamber.com/star-valley-scenic-byway • Start/End: Alpine & Geneva Junction, ID, on US 89 • 80 miles, allow 1.5 hours, open year-round Climb Salt Canyon and Salt River Pass, and end at the Lincoln County line in Snake River Canyon. See wilderness, three major rivers, wildlife and snow-capped peaks. ROCKIES TO TETONS See p. 78 for ROCKIES TO TETONS regional information. BATTLE PASS SCENIC BYWAY wyohistory.org/field-trips/battle-pass-scenic-byway • Start/End: Encampment & Baggs on WY 70 • 57 miles, allow 1.5 hours, open Memorial Day–Oct. This Sierra Madres routes passes the ghost town of Battle, Battle Lake and Aspen Alley, a favorite of fall-color seekers north on Forest Road 801. SEMINOE TO ALCOVA SCENIC BACKWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/13403.html • Start/End: Sinclair & Alcova on I-80 & WY 220 • 71 miles, allow 2.5 hours, passable May–Nov. Steer through the Seminoe Mountains past Alcova, Seminoe and Pathfinder reservoirs and Seminoe State Park. Parts are steep; not recommended for motor homes. SNOWY RANGE SCENIC BYWAY visitlaramie.org/snowy-range-scenic-byway • Start/ End: Centennial & Laramie on WY 130 • 47 miles, allow 1 hour, open Memorial Day–mid-Nov. A paved highway from the old mining town of Centennial over the rugged crest of the Snowy Range to the North Platte River Valley. SOUTH PASS CITY TO WALTMAN HISTORIC MINE BYWAY wyoshpo.state.wy.us/MM/Byway.aspx • Start/End: South Pass City to Jeffrey City • Allow 1.5 hours, open year-round (not recommended in winter) Linking the gold mines in South Pass City, Miner’s Delight and Atlantic City to the uranium mines in the Crooks Gap and Gas Hills districts in Fremont County. PARK TO PARK See p. 92 for PARK TO PARK regional information. RED WALL SCENIC BACKWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/13404.html • Start/End: Casper & Shoshoni on US 20/26 • 101 miles, allow 3 hours, open year-round This horseshoe-shaped route explores the southern end of the Big Horn Mountain Range along old livestock trails still in use by today’s ranchers. WIND RIVER CANYON SCENIC BYWAY scenicusa.net/081213.html • Start/End: Shoshoni & Thermopolis on US 20 • 34 miles, allow 40 minutes, open year-round Unspoiled scenic views, geologic field exploration opportunities, abundant wildlife, float trips, canyon fishing, boat launching facilities and state park public camping. BLACK TO YELLOW See p. 103 for BLACK TO YELLOW regional information. BEARTOOTH ALL-AMERICAN ROAD beartoothhighway.com • Start/End: Cody & Red Lodge, MT, on US 212 • 68 miles, allow 3 hours, open May–Oct. This paved route rolls over the Beartooth Mountains on Wyoming’s highest highway past alpine lakes and forest and through the Absaroka Mountains into Yellowstone. BIGHORN SCENIC BYWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/2053.html • Start/End: Dayton & Shell on US 14 • 58 miles, allow 70 minutes, partial portions open year-round, with US 14 Alt from Burgess Junction to Lovell closed Oct. to Memorial Day Climb nearly 5,000 feet in elevation through Bighorn National Forest along switchbacks and twists to Granite Pass before heading through Shell Canyon. BUFFALO BILL CODY SCENIC BYWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/2166.html • Start & End: Cody & Yellowstone National Park on US 14/16/20 • 27. 5 miles allow 45 minutes open year-round Following North Fork Shoshone River to the East Entrance of Yellowstone this byway travels through a wide canyon carved by the North Fork. BLACK HILLS SCENIC BYWAY dot.state.wy.us/home.html • Start/End: Roughly Weston, Newcastle & Four Corners on WYO 116, WYO 585, US 85 & US 16 • 78 miles, allow 1.5 hours, open year-round At the western gateway to the Black Hills area that stretches into South Dakota, the area is rich with historic sites, natural vistas and archeological interests. CHIEF JOSEPH SCENIC BYWAY codywyomingnet.com/scenic_drives/chiefjoseph scenic_highway.php • Start/End: Cody & Yellowstone National Park on WY 296 • 46 miles, allow 1 hour, open year-round Named for the Native American chief of the Nez Perce Tribe, the route crosses Shoshone National Forest through the Absaroka Mountains to the Clarks Fork Valley. CLOUD PEAK SKYWAY SCENIC BYWAY scenicbyways.info/byway/2165.html • Start/End: Buffalo & Ten Sleep on US 16 • 47 miles, allow 2 hours, open year-round A paved highway up Ten Sleep Canyon and over the southern end of the Big Horn Mountains, one of the largest and most spectacular ranges in Wyoming. RED GULCH/ALKALI SCENIC BACKWAY blm.gov/wy/st/en/field_offices/Worland/rec/redgulch.html • Start/End: Shell & Hyattville on US 14 & 31 • 32 miles, allow 1 hour, open May–Oct. On improved gravel/dirt roads, the backway meanders through the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, with trails that lead off to hoodoos, wind-carved rock formations.
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