Bighorn Scenic Byway

Bighorn Scenic Byway
Name	Bighorn Scenic Byway
Caption	View along the byway in the Bighorn Mountains
Length mi	70
Location	Wyoming, Sheridan County, Wyoming, Johnson County, Wyoming
Termini	Sheridan, Wyoming — Ten Sleep, Wyoming
Established	1989
Maintained by	Wyoming Department of Transportation, United States Forest Service

Bighorn Scenic Byway is a designated scenic route that traverses the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming, linking the plains town of Sheridan, Wyoming with the mountain community of Ten Sleep, Wyoming. The corridor rises from the Tongue River valley into alpine terrain near Cloud Peak Wilderness and provides access to federal lands administered by the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The route is notable for vistas of Bighorn National Forest, geological exposures, and wildlife associated with the Yellowstone ecosystem and the Northern Rockies.

Route description

The byway departs Sheridan, Wyoming near the junction with Interstate 90 and follows state and county roads that climb into the Bighorn Mountains via the Shell Creek and Tongue River drainages. Travelers encounter switchbacks and overlooks adjacent to the Bighorn Basin escarpment, passing through communities near Story, Wyoming and Shell, Wyoming, with connections to U.S. Route 14A and Wyoming Highway 330. Higher elevations approach the Cloud Peak Wilderness and skirt the headwaters of tributaries to the Big Horn River and Little Big Horn River, with numerous pullouts offering views of features mapped by the United States Geological Survey. The route terminates at Ten Sleep, Wyoming where it intersects corridors leading toward Buffalo, Wyoming and the Crow Indian Reservation.

History

The corridor follows travel paths used by Indigenous peoples, including routes associated with the Crow Nation and the Arapaho, linking plains and mountain resources long before Euro-American exploration. During the 19th century the area saw passage by fur trappers connected to companies such as the American Fur Company and scouts associated with expeditions tied to the Bozeman Trail era and Sioux Wars. In the early 20th century, ranching families and timber interests, some holding patents assisted by acts like the Homestead Acts, developed roads that later formed modern alignments; federal initiatives under the Civilian Conservation Corps and the U.S. Forest Service improved access during the New Deal period. State designation as a scenic byway in the late 20th century reflected tourism planning influenced by agencies such as the Wyoming Department of Transportation and advocacy from local chambers like the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce.

Natural features and wildlife

The byway traverses ecological zones from shortgrass prairie dominated near Powell, Wyoming-adjacent lowlands to subalpine meadows and conifer stands of ponderosa pine and subalpine fir, ecosystems characterized in surveys by the United States Forest Service and researchers from institutions such as University of Wyoming. Geological exposures reveal lithologies correlated with the Bighorn Basin stratigraphy and uplift associated with the Laramide orogeny, with visible formations studied by scientists at the United States Geological Survey. Fauna along the route include populations of American elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and carnivores such as gray wolf and grizzly bear listed in inventories by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; avifauna includes golden eagle and peregrine falcon monitored by organizations like the National Audubon Society. Riparian corridors support beaver and native trout species surveyed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Recreation and attractions

Recreation opportunities accessible from the corridor include trailheads for the Cloud Peak Wilderness and access to long-distance routes such as segments used by hikers connected to the Continental Divide Trail network; climbing and scrambling occur on formations cataloged by the American Alpine Club. Angling in alpine lakes and streams attracts anglers following regulations from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, while elk and deer hunting seasons are managed in coordination with the North American Wildlife Conservation Model frameworks applied by state agencies. Cultural attractions include historic precincts in Sheridan, Wyoming with links to the King Opera House and the Sheridan Inn, and interpretive sites describing Indigenous history involving the Crow Nation and events tied to the Great Sioux War of 1876. Annual events promoted by the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce and regional festivals bring visitors for heritage tourism and outdoor recreation.

Access and transportation

Primary access is from Interstate 90 at Sheridan, Wyoming and from state highways near Ten Sleep, Wyoming, with seasonal variations in Wyoming Department of Transportation maintenance affecting winter accessibility. Roadway surfaces vary between paved state highways and maintained county segments; heavy vehicles and RVs should consult advisories issued by the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the National Weather Service for weather-driven closures. Public transit options are minimal; nearest commercial air service operates from Billings Logan International Airport and Sheridan County Airport, with regional shuttles and private operators facilitating access. Emergency services are provided by local entities including the Sheridan County Sheriff's Office and search-and-rescue units coordinated with the United States Forest Service.

Conservation and management

Management of the corridor involves multi-jurisdictional coordination among the Wyoming Department of Transportation, United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and local counties, integrating objectives set by the National Scenic Byways Program and state-level scenic initiatives. Conservation priorities emphasize habitat connectivity for species linked to the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative concepts, invasive species control guided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture protocols, and wildfire risk reduction consistent with policies from the National Interagency Fire Center. Funding and stewardship draw on partnerships with NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy and local historic preservation groups registered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to balance recreation, heritage, and resource conservation.

Category:Scenic highways in Wyoming Category:Transportation in Sheridan County, Wyoming Category:Tourist attractions in Wyoming