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| Scenic Loop Through the Bighorn Mountains, WY | | -
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| | Scenic Loop Through the Bighorn Mountains, WY | | | |
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Scenic Loop Through the Bighorn Mountains, WY
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| Scenic Drive | 200.00 Miles |
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| | Scenic Drive | 200.00 Miles | | | |
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| no partners | | The last scenic drive out of our base camp in Cody went east across the Bighorn Basin to the Bighorn Mountains. Our route was a loop starting out on US 14-Alt exiting the north side of Cody and crossing the Bighorn Basin through Powell and Lovell then climbing steeply in a series of switchbacks into the Bighorn Mountains. US 14-Alt then turns southeast along the mountains, picking up the name “Medicine Wheel Passage Scenic Byway”, until it reaches the Burgess Junction with US 14 named the “Bighorn Scenic Byway”. We turned south on this highway from the junction for the return portion of the loop back to Cody where it enters on the south side of town for a total driving distance of 200 miles.
This drive through the Bighorns had been recommended by a local couple we met on our drive up Wood River the day before. One of the benefits of having Mrs. OH along on these trips is that she picks up all kinds of good info while yakking it up with other sight-seers while I’m taking photos. She told them about our drive through Yellowstone and that she was disappointed not to have seen any moose. That’s when her new friends of the moment recommended this drive for its scenery and also guaranteed we would see moose from the highway. They were correct on both counts but in error on their estimate of the distance which ended up being almost twice as far as they had told us.
The scenery along US 14-Alt on its way through the mountains is reminiscent of the White Mountains in AZ with large grass covered meadows through which streams meander and are surrounded by tree covered hills and peaks. The highway follows the North Tongue River for several miles where it flows through marshy meadows. A few fly fisherpersons were trying their luck. This is where we had our first and only moose sightings of the trip. On the return part of the loop, US 14 passes Shell Falls as it descends to Bighorn Basin. The Bighorn National Forest has installed a very nice short, paved trail to viewpoints of the falls and the deep canyon below. We were making our way along this trail when one of the other visitors offered to take a photo of Mrs. OH and I. A nice offer which we took him up on. After seeing me struggling with the nerve pain in my right leg, he also offered this advice in a hushed voice: “Remember these three words, “Botox” and “Snail Toxin”, they’ll take care of that pain.” I remember those words but have only gone as far as looking up snail toxin. It’s the deadly toxin of a sea snail that kills by paralyzing its victim’s nerves – Yup, that would do it.
This was a pleasant drive with very little traffic with nice views. The moose sighting only stopped 2 other cars, not like the mile long rows of cars down both shoulders of the road that you’d see in Yellowstone. My only regret is that in looking at the maps, I see there were several scenic viewpoints we missed. |
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