Silk Creek Road to Togwotee Pass
Historic freight route over the Continental Divide
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.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 45 mi / 72.4 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9658 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Jackson, Wyoming |
| Land manager | US Forest Service - Bridger-Teton National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler handle Silk Creek Road to Togwotee Pass without a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with factory skid plates is the minimum — think base 4Runner, Wrangler, or similar. A lifted rig gives you more comfort on the rocky sections and water crossings, but it's not required. Low-slung cars, crossovers, and 2WD trucks have no business here.
When does the trail actually open in spring, and is it rideable in fall before snow hits?
June is the realistic opener — snowpack at nearly 10,000 feet can linger into late May and the Forest Service doesn't maintain this road aggressively. September and early October are solid, but after mid-October you're gambling on early snow closing the route. Check current conditions with Bridger-Teton NF before any shoulder-season run.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp on this route?
No permit required to drive the route. Dispersed camping on Bridger-Teton National Forest land is free and legal — standard 16-day stay limit applies. No campfire permits needed outside of fire restrictions, but check active restrictions before you go because Wyoming fire bans hit without much warning.
What's the hardest section of the trail and what makes it gnarly?
The roughest miles are along lower Silk Creek where the road tightens, gets rutted after rain, and water crossings can run fast early in the season. Nothing on this trail is technically extreme, but a single bad crossing on a swollen creek in June can absolutely strand a rig — read the water before you commit and know your approach/departure angles.
How far is it between gas stops, and is there any cell service if something goes wrong?
Plan on zero cell service for the entire 45-mile route — this is a genuine dead zone. Gas up in Jackson before you leave and verify your range; the nearest fuel on the east end is Dubois, roughly 85 miles from Jackson via the highway. Carry a satellite communicator — a breakdown out here means you're waiting on whoever you sent a ping to.
Trail track
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