Lonesome Highway — Bighorn Mountains South Slope to Tensleep Canyon via Hazelton Road and Tensleep Creek Gorge
Red wall badlands to limestone canyon walls.
Hazelton Road off US-16 south of Ten Sleep puts you immediately into the grain of the Bighorn Mountains’ western approach — a corrugated series of ridges, dry washes, and red sandstone formations that most drivers bypass entirely at highway speed. The route pushes through open sagebrush flats and juniper-dotted benches before the terrain pinches into the drainage systems feeding Tensleep Creek. The creek gorge itself is the payoff: tight limestone walls, cottonwood groves, and the occasional seep that draws wildlife year-round. Washouts and eroded two-track sections keep honest pressure on the driver through this lower-basin country.
A high-clearance 4WD is required; stock rigs with skid plates are fine in dry conditions but the wash crossings multiply after spring runoff or summer thunderstorms. No permit required. Dispersed camping throughout the Bighorn National Forest sections — pack your own water since creek sources need treatment. Best window is June through September; early season snowmelt can flood the lower wash crossings well into late May. Cell service is nonexistent until you reach Ten Sleep. Fuel in Worland or Buffalo before heading in — there’s nothing between them on this route.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 44 mi / 70.8 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7400 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Ten Sleep, WY |
| Land manager | Bighorn National Forest, Tensleep Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Bighorn National Forest Tensleep Ranger District |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this trail, or does it need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner can handle this route. Skid plates are worth having given the rocky sections through Tensleep Creek Gorge, but a lift isn't required.
When does Hazelton Road typically open in spring, and is it accessible in early June?
The route is best from June through September. Early June can be muddy and seasonally wet — the clay-heavy badlands section on the south slope turns into a skating rink after rain or snowmelt. Check with the Tensleep Ranger District before heading out early in the season.
Do I need a permit to drive this route or camp along it?
No permit is required to drive the trail. Dispersed camping on Bighorn National Forest land is free and allowed under standard NF rules — 14-day stay limit, 300 feet from water sources and roads.
What's the hardest section of the route and what should I actually be worried about?
The descent into Tensleep Canyon through the gorge is the most committing stretch — narrow, rocky, and exposed with limited turnaround options. The bigger concern on this whole route is the road surface after any rain; the badlands clay becomes dangerously slick and can bog even capable rigs.
How many water crossings are there on Tensleep Creek, and are they passable in a stock rig?
There are multiple crossings of Tensleep Creek through the gorge section — expect anywhere from 3 to 6 depending on conditions. In normal summer flows they're shallow and straightforward for a high-clearance 4WD, but spring runoff or recent storms can push depths up fast. There's zero cell service on this route, so check creek conditions locally in Ten Sleep before you go.
Trail track
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