Silk Creek Road to Togwotee Pass

Silk Creek Road (Forest Service Road 30540) follows an old freight route used by early settlers to haul supplies between Jackson Hole and the Wind River Valley, winding through dense lodgepole forests and crossing Togwotee Pass at 9,658 feet. The route passes abandoned logging camps and crosses Silk Creek multiple times on deteriorating wooden bridges, with the ghost town of Moran Junction visible in the distance. Beyond Buffalo Fork, the road climbs steadily through moose country toward the Continental Divide, offering glimpses of the Teton Range through breaks in the timber.

Moderate to difficult depending on conditions, requiring high-clearance 4WD and careful navigation around washouts and fallen timber. Best accessed June through October, though early season can mean muddy conditions and late snowpack. No services for 40+ miles, pack extra fuel and water. Several excellent dispersed camping spots along Silk Creek and near the divide. This route offers solitude and wildlife viewing opportunities that the busy Togwotee Highway can’t match, plus the satisfaction of following wagon ruts that freight haulers carved more than a century ago.