Chief Joseph ScenicByway.
Distance
60 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
900 m
Rating
4.7 / 5
421 reviews
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.
WY-296 from Cody over Dead Indian Summit at 2,255 m to Cooke City — the gateway into Yellowstone's least-crowded northeast entrance. Shoshone River canyon badlands, remote Sunlight Basin, and fewer tourists than any other Yellowstone approach.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance60 km
Days1
Total climb900 m
DifficultyModerate
Loading map...
The route.
Cody, WYStart · Full services — fuel, food, lodging. Buffalo Bill's namesake town has the excellent Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Fill up here.
Shoshone River CanyonScenic Point · The road carves through technicolor badlands of the Shoshone River canyon — red, orange, and grey volcanic layers eroded into towers.
Buffalo Bill Reservoir OverlookPhoto Spot · The reservoir fills a canyon between the Absaroka and Owl Creek Mountains. Dam and water visible together in one frame.
Sunlight Basin ViewpointScenic Point · First view into Sunlight Basin — a remote, nearly roadless valley ringed by 3,600 m peaks. One of the wildest landscapes in Wyoming.
Dead Indian SummitMountain Pass · 2,255 m crossing. The descent ahead into the Clarks Fork valley is dramatic — the road drops 600 m in a series of exposed switchbacks.
Dead Indian Hill OverlookPhoto Spot · Looking back over the ridge you just crossed — the layered geology of the Absaroka is on full display. A crowd-free version of every famous Wyoming view.
Cooke City JunctionEnd · Junction with US-212 (Beartooth Highway). Yellowstone's northeast gate is 5 km south. Pair this with the Beartooth for a full day loop.
From riders.
421 verified rides logged on this route.
4.7/ 5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
421 verified rides
More routes in United States
Save this ride. Open the app.
Clone it to your planner, customize dates and stops, then ride. All free.
Open in MotoVault
Navigate this route with GPS