Chief Joseph Scenic Highway Backcountry Loop
Alpine mining roads above the tourist highway
Chief Joseph Scenic Highway’s backcountry loop ventures beyond the paved tourist route into genuine wilderness, connecting Sunlight Basin’s ranching country to Dead Indian Pass through a maze of mining roads and pack trails in the Absaroka Mountains. The route climbs from sagebrush flats to alpine meadows above 9,000 feet, passing abandoned prospects from the 1890s gold rush and offering close-up views of Pilot Peak’s granite faces that few tourists ever see.
Difficult rating due to high elevation, loose rock surfaces, and several technical creek crossings near Sunlight Creek. Modified 4WD with good ground clearance essential, plus recovery gear and emergency supplies — weather changes fast above treeline and snow possible any month. Best window is July through September; carry extra fuel as the nearest gas is 60 miles in either direction. You’ll earn world-class camping spots in country that looks more like Alaska than Wyoming, with zero cell service but maximum solitude.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 45 mi / 72.4 km |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9400 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Cody, Wyoming |
| Land manager | Shoshone National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this loop, or do I actually need modifications?
A stock rig will struggle here. The mining roads above Sunlight Basin have rocky ledges, embedded loose rock, and off-camber sections that demand real ground clearance — minimum 8-10 inches lifted. Lockers or at least a rear LSD are worth having on the steeper pitches.
When does the road actually open in spring, and how late can I push into fall?
July is the realistic opening window — snowpack above 9,000 feet lingers well into June and can close sections without warning. After mid-September, early season snowstorms are common and can strand you fast at elevation; plan your exit accordingly.
Do I need a permit to run this loop or camp overnight in Shoshone National Forest?
No permit required for dispersed camping or driving the loop as of current regulations — Shoshone National Forest allows dispersed camping with standard 14-day limits and Leave No Trace rules. Campfire restrictions can change during high fire danger periods, so check with the Cody Ranger District before you head out.
What's the hardest section of the loop and what am I actually dealing with?
The mining road segments climbing out of Sunlight Basin are the crux — tight switchbacks, loose shale, and narrow shelf road with meaningful exposure on the passenger side. At 9,400 feet max elevation, altitude and thin air affect both the driver and the engine; naturally aspirated rigs will feel it.
There's zero cell service out here — how far is the nearest gas, and are the water crossings actually driveable?
Fuel up in Cody before you leave; there's nothing useful between Cody and the trailhead, and 45 miles of backcountry driving in low range eats fuel. Water crossings exist and vary by snowmelt — early July can push them knee-deep or more, while August crossings are typically straightforward for a high-clearance rig.
Trail track
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