Bucking Horse Ridge Road

The Bucking Horse Ridge Road cuts a demanding line through some of Wyoming’s most remote backcountry, climbing from the Shoshone River drainage to over 9,000 feet along the spine of the Absaroka Range. This seldom-traveled Forest Service route serves as a vital link between hunting camps and fire lookouts, crossing Bucking Horse Creek multiple times before ascending the ridge proper. The road deteriorates significantly after the first five miles, transitioning from rough gravel to loose rock and exposed ledges with dramatic drop-offs into timber-choked valleys below.

This is legitimate difficult terrain requiring high-clearance 4WD with skid plates and recovery gear — multiple creek crossings can become impassable during spring runoff or after heavy rains. Best tackled July through September when snow clears the high passes, though afternoon thunderstorms create their own hazards on exposed ridgelines. No fuel, water, or services exist along the route, and cell coverage is nonexistent. The payoff is complete solitude and some of the finest wilderness views in the Greater Yellowstone area, with established dispersed camping at several meadow locations.