2016-10-22 01:34:01
Begin the adventure long before Yellowstone National Park’s East Entrance with detours through Wyoming’s Black Hills National Forest, Devils Tower National Monument and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. SUNDANCE TO GILLETTE Crossing over the state line from South Dakota, your first Wyoming stop is the Vore Buffalo Jump. One of the most important archeological sites of the late-prehistoric Plains Indians, the Vore is a natural sinkhole that was used as a bison trap from about 1500 to 1800. Then, stop at the Welcome Center in Beulah (exit 199) for trip ideas from the knowledgeable staff. Travel from the Welcome Center to Devils Tower National Monument. In 1906, Teddy Roosevelt named the tower the United States’ first national monument. It looms more than 1,200 feet above the eastern plains and the Belle Fourche River. Hike the natural trails surrounding the monument and try to spot rock climbers scaling its columns. GILLETTE TO BUFFALO After Devils Tower, head to the Campbell County Rockpile Museum in Gillette. Gillette’s natural resources make the area a key player in supplying energy around the world. Take time for a coal-mine tour; see what’s happening at the CAM-PLEX Multi-Event Facilities, which hosts theater, rodeos and more; or tour Durham Ranch, one of the world’s largest and oldest working buffalo ranches. BUFFALO TO SHERIDAN OR WORLAND Tucked between the plains of the Old West and the peaks of the Bighorn Mountains, Buffalo is a perfect spot to explore wideopen spaces with a bike, boat or your two feet and will serve as your fork in the road to decide between Sheridan and Worland. Sheridan is the “King of Cowboy Towns.” With more than 70 buildings in its National Historic District, Sheridan’s Main Street is where the charm of the Old West meets a vibrant modern community. Be sure to stop at King’s Saddlery, where the King family has supplied locals with saddles, ropes, reins and other Western supplies since 1946. Get off I-90 on Hwy 14 toward Lovell to see Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Over time, geologic forces have distorted and bowed rock layers into 1,000-foot cliffs. Worland has the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center, offering an incredible experience of life in the Bighorn Basin. Traveling to Worland using Route 16 is recommended for Rvs or vehicles that are pulling, as Route 14 through Sheridan has steep grades. From Worland, head 40 minutes north to Greybull. Greybull is located at the confluence of the Bighorn and Greybull rivers. Greybull’s proximity to the Bighorn Mountains makes it an accessible base camp for outdoor excursions such as fishing, horseback riding and camping. Or, take a small detour to cruise the Red Gulch/Alkali Scenic Backway, a 34- mile mostly unpaved route that will take you along the red sandstone Chugwater Formation. The rugged canyons, caves and steep walls were eroded by water and carved by winds. LOVELL TO CODY Whichever route you choose, you’ll end up in the town of Lovell, where rose gardens abound. Here you’ll find easy access to Bighorn Mountain National Forest and the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. Wild mustangs that descended from the horses of 16th-century Spanish Conquistadors make up wild herds that roam the canyons and ridges of the range. Observing these elegant, beautiful animals in an unrestrained, natural setting is something you won’t want to miss. Stop in Powell on your path toward Yellowstone. In the heart of the Bighorn Basin, Powell is surrounded by the Bighorn, Pryor and Absaroka mountain ranges. Take time to visit the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, the site of a WWII-era Japanese American relocation camp. CODY TO YELLOWSTONE Continue west to the town of Cody, where you’ll experience outdoor adventure, from rock climbing to fly-fishing and horseback riding. Three scenic byways (go to p. 138 for more information) in the area offer opportunities to view wildlife and the landscape that makes this part of Wyoming awe inspiring. While in Cody, a must-see is the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, which celebrates the spirit of the American West with history, local lore and native culture. You’ll pass the Buffalo Bill Reservoir Visitor Center & Dam on Hwy 14 on your way to the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. With more than 2 million acres of sprawling wilderness, Yellowstone stands as one of North America’s greatest assets. The iconic spots — Old Faithful, Lower Falls and Yellowstone Lake — will be familiar from paintings and photographs, but seeing them in person is a humbling experience.
©Wyoming. View All Articles.