Glacier Ridge Trail — Bighorn National Forest High Road via Tensleep Canyon Rim
Bighorn ridgeline above the cloud line.
Start off US-16 west of Buffalo and climb into the Bighorn National Forest via Forest Road 18 toward Hazelton Road, working your way onto the Glacier Ridge system that crowns the range’s northern spine. The route strings together open meadows, lodgepole corridors, and exposed ridgeline segments where Cloud Peak dominates the skyline to the south and the Powder River Basin stretches flat to the east. The crux sections come on the rocky shelf roads above 9,400 feet where loose shale and off-camber shelf edges demand deliberate wheel placement — not the place to rush. Highlight waypoints include the Penrose Mountain radio tower access road and the open tundra bench above Lost Twin Lakes.
This is a high-clearance 4WD route — a stock lifted truck with all-terrain tires handles it in dry summer conditions, but the shelf roads turn greasy fast in afternoon thunderstorms, which roll in daily from July onward. Best window is late June through September before the first snows lock the upper elevations. No permits required. Fuel up in Buffalo or Ten Sleep — there’s nothing on route. Water is available from snowmelt streams but treat everything. Dispersed camping is legal throughout Bighorn National Forest with a fire ring and LNT setup. Cell service drops to zero above the first ridge.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61.2 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9480 ft |
| Best season | June-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 will get through most of it, but the rocky technical sections along the ridgeline will scrape up a low-slung skid plate fast. Locking differentials are a real advantage here — a locker up front gets you out of trouble on the exposed shelf sections. Don't attempt this in a 2WD or a crossover with a 'Trail' badge.
When does this trail actually open after winter, and can you run it in early June?
Snow typically lingers on the Bighorn ridgeline well into June — some years the high sections don't clear until late June or early July. Check current conditions with Bighorn National Forest (307-674-2600) before committing; showing up in May or early June expecting dry trail is a gamble you'll likely lose.
Do you need a permit to run this trail or camp along it?
No permit required for the trail itself or dispersed camping within Bighorn National Forest. Standard Forest Service dispersed camping rules apply — 14-day stay limit, 300 feet from water sources and roads. No fee to enter the forest on this route.
What's the hardest section and what makes it ugly?
The exposed ridgeline stretch above 9,000 feet throws loose rock, off-camber shelf road, and narrow two-track at you simultaneously — there's minimal room for error with significant drop-offs on the canyon side. The technical difficulty isn't about one single obstacle; it's sustained exposure and consequence over several miles where a recovery anchor point is hard to find.
There's zero cell service out there — how far is it to the nearest gas and what should I know about water sources?
Buffalo, Wyoming is your last reliable fuel stop before the trail — don't push your range, carry extra. Water crossings exist on route but treat everything; bring enough water for the full 38 miles because sources are not guaranteed and remote bailout options are limited if something goes sideways.
Trail track
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