Sawmill Road to Haynes Ridge — Bighorn National Forest Cloud Peak Wilderness Edge via Tensleep Creek
The Bighorns from the top, not the highway.
The Bighorn Mountains are easy to drive through on US-16 over Powder River Pass and never understand what you’re actually rolling above. This route gives you the real version. Starting off Forest Road 27 near the Tensleep Creek drainage, the road climbs through lodgepole timber and breaks out onto the open sage and granite ridgelines below Haynes Ridge — elevation pushing close to 9,000 feet with the Cloud Peak Wilderness wall rising to the west and the Bighorn Basin floor laid out to the east like a topographic map. The track gets rough on the upper sections: loose shale shelves, drainage crossings with soft approaches, and sections of embedded rock that reward a proper suspension setup. Stay oriented — intersecting two-tracks are inconsistently marked.
A capable high-clearance 4WD handles the route in dry summer conditions without drama. Snow can persist on the upper reaches well into June and comes back in September — plan accordingly. Tensleep is your best fuel stop to the east; Buffalo covers you to the north. No permit required for dispersed camping in Bighorn National Forest. Water from Tensleep Creek is available but treat everything. Cell service is nonexistent on the ridge. What this road delivers is simple: you earn the view by putting in the miles on the rough stuff first, and that’s the only honest way to see the Bighorns.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 31 mi / 49.9 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9150 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Tensleep, WY |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Bighorn National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Bighorn National Forest USFS Page |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Sawmill Road to Haynes Ridge, or does this need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner is the minimum and will get through under normal summer conditions. The rocky two-track sections will drag low-slung bumpers and sidesteps, so if your rig is lowered or lightly lifted with skid plates missing, reconsider. A locker helps on the loose rock pitches but isn't mandatory.
When does the trail actually open and close — not the official date, the real window?
July through September is the reliable window. Snowpack at 9,000+ feet lingers into late June most years, and early October storms can close the high sections fast. Check the Bighorn National Forest road conditions line or local Tensleep outfitters before heading up in June or after Labor Day.
Do I need a permit to run this trail or camp out here?
No permit is required to drive the route or use dispersed campsites on Bighorn National Forest land. Stay out of the Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary — motorized vehicles are prohibited inside it. Standard LNT rules apply: pack out waste, camp 200 feet from water sources.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it difficult?
The upper two-track approaching Haynes Ridge throws the most at you — loose embedded rock, off-camber shelf road, and limited room to recover or turn around. It's not a white-knuckle trail, but the combination of exposure, altitude, and soft shoulders after rain means a slip has real consequences. Take it slow on wet days.
There's zero cell service — how far is it back to fuel and services from the trailhead?
Tensleep, WY is the closest fuel stop and it's small — confirm hours before you go, because it's not a 24-hour town. Budget for a full tank before you leave Ten Sleep and carry a spare couple gallons if your rig drinks fuel at altitude. Worland (~40 miles east) is your fallback for anything serious.
Trail track
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