Glacier Ridge Trail — Bighorn National Forest High Road
Wyoming high country with zero crowds.
The Bighorn Mountains don’t mess around. Glacier Ridge Trail — also tracked as USFS Road 13 and its spurs — cuts across the spine of Bighorn National Forest between US-14A and US-16, roughly between Burgess Junction and Buffalo. You’re pushing through lodgepole and Engelmann spruce until the trees give out and the world opens up into wide subalpine basins. Firefighters Memorial Campground makes a solid base before you hit the exposed ridge sections. The route passes near Helen Lake and skirts the edge of Cloud Peak Wilderness — no motorized access into the wilderness itself, but the views into it are legit. Expect rocky two-track, embedded shale, muddy drainage crossings after any rain, and the occasional downed timber across the road in early season.
This is a solid moderate-to-difficult run depending on conditions — wet weather turns the clay sections ugly fast. High-clearance 4WD is the minimum; lockers help on the rockier saddle climbs. Cell service is nonexistent once you’re in the high country. Best window is mid-July through September — snowpack lingers at elevation into early summer and can return by October. Fuel up in Buffalo or Sheridan before heading in. No permit required. Dispersed camping is available in the national forest outside wilderness boundaries. What you get is genuine Wyoming high country with almost no crowds by comparison to more famous routes.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61.2 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9600 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Buffalo, Wyoming |
| Land manager | Bighorn National Forest, USDA Forest Service |
| 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 Tacoma or 4Runner handle Glacier Ridge Trail, or does it need to be built?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner can manage it, but you'll want low-range and good all-terrain tires minimum. Rocky ridge sections and shelf roads above 9,000 feet will punish street tires and anything with less than 8 inches of clearance. A lift helps but isn't mandatory if you drive smart.
When does the trail actually open and close — is July 1st a safe bet?
July through September is the reliable window, but snowpack varies year to year and some sections above 9,000 feet can stay buried into late June. Call the Bighorn National Forest Supervisor's Office or check fs.usda.gov/bighorn before you roll — guessing wrong here means turning around 20 miles in.
Do you need a permit to run Glacier Ridge Trail or camp along it?
No permit is required to drive the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed under standard Bighorn National Forest rules — 14-day limit, 300 feet from water sources and trails, and pack out everything you pack in. No fees as of current Forest Service policy, but confirm at fs.usda.gov/bighorn before you go.
What's the hardest section and what specifically makes it technical?
The rocky ridge saddle crossings above 9,000 feet are where it gets real — loose shale, off-camber shelf road, and embedded rock steps that demand precise tire placement. If you're towing anything or running a longer wheelbase rig, articulation through those rocky cuts will test your breakover angle hard. One wrong line and you're high-centered with no cell service and no one coming.
How serious are the water crossings, and is there any chance of getting stranded if they're running high?
Crossings are typically wheel-well depth or less by mid-July, but early season or after heavy rain they can run significantly higher and faster. There's no cell service on the entire trail, so if you get stuck mid-crossing or damage a diff, you're self-rescuing or waiting for another rig to come through — which could be a while out here. Cross only if you can see the bottom and check conditions before you leave Buffalo.
Trail track
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