Lonesome Highway — Bighorn Basin Desert Floor to Meeteetse via Kirby Creek and Oregon Basin Road
Wyoming badlands, oil country, zero crowds.
Most people blow through Thermopolis on their way to Cody and miss this entirely. Oregon Basin Road and the Kirby Creek corridor cut northwest across the Bighorn Basin’s open skin — a landscape of grey badland draws, oil pump jacks nodding in the wind, and antelope by the hundreds moving through sage that goes to the horizon in every direction. The route follows county-maintained gravel through the basin floor before the road degrades past the Kirby Creek drainage, where bentonite clay turns the track into a wheel-sucking trap after any moisture. The endpoint at Meeteetse is one of Wyoming’s last genuinely small cow towns, still running on ranch economy and suspicious of strangers in a friendly way.
Stock high-clearance 4WD handles this route in dry conditions. After rain, two-wheel-drive is suicidal and even capable rigs get stuck in the bentonite. Best traveled June through September when the basin floor is baked hard. No permits, no fees, no services between Thermopolis and Meeteetse — fuel up in both towns. Cell service is spotty at best, nonexistent through the basin interior. Dispersed camping is available on BLM land throughout. This road doesn’t promise waterfalls or arches — it gives you the honest emptiness of the Wyoming high desert and the company of nobody.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 52 mi / 83.7 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5800 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD (dry) / skid plates recommended |
| Nearest town | Meeteetse, WY |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management — Cody Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Cody Field Office |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this trail without modifications?
Yes, a stock high-clearance 4WD with decent all-terrain tires handles this fine in dry conditions. Skid plates are worth having — the rocky sections in Oregon Basin Road will find your undercarriage if you're not paying attention.
When does this trail become impassable or dangerous?
Spring and late fall are the problem seasons — Wyoming badlands clay turns to axle-sucking gumbo after rain or snowmelt and can strand even capable rigs. Stick to June through September and check conditions before you go if any precipitation hit the area in the previous 48 hours.
Do you need a permit to run this route or camp along it?
No permit required — this is BLM land managed out of the Cody Field Office and dispersed camping is allowed under standard BLM rules (14-day limit, 200 feet from water and roads). No fees. Contact the Cody Field Office if conditions or closures are a concern before your trip.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The Oregon Basin Road stretch is the most technical — loose shale, eroded cuts, and some shelf road with exposure. It's not extreme, but it demands attention and punishes distracted driving. Nothing a capable stock rig can't handle; it just keeps you honest.
Is there water available along the route, and how far is the nearest fuel from the trail?
The Kirby Creek crossing provides water but treat it before drinking — no developed sources exist on this route. Fuel up in Thermopolis before you start or in Meeteetse at the end; there's nothing in between and the 52-mile route plus approach adds up fast on a thirsty rig.
Trail track
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