Mojave Road — Afton Canyon to Needles via Government Holes and Lanfair Valley (Night Sky Variant)
Grassland benches and a volcanic plug at trail's end.
This run connects the high pine country south of Sundance, Wyoming, with the grassland benches of the Belle Fourche River drainage before dropping you in the flats below Devils Tower National Monument — one of the most recognizable volcanic necks on the planet. The gravel and two-track mix through Thunder Basin National Grassland is deceptively easy-looking on a map but stretches go unmaintained and can dish out washboards, ruts, and loose shale that’ll test your tire choice fast. The key waypoints are the Hay Creek Road junction, the descent into the Belle Fourche River Valley near Hulett, and the final approach road to Devils Tower itself. This isn’t a hair-raising technical route — it’s a long, quiet, genuinely remote grassland cruise that rewards drivers who slow down and pay attention. Pronghorn, mule deer, and the occasional bald eagle on fence posts are your company through most of the run.
Moderate difficulty overall — a capable stock high-clearance 4WD handles it in dry conditions. Rain turns the Thunder Basin clay two-tracks slick in a hurry, upgrading this to Difficult or worse depending on how much has fallen. Best season is May through October; avoid spring runoff and early summer when the access tracks through the grassland are soft. Fuel in Sundance before departure — Hulett has a station but don’t rely on it being open. No permits required for the grassland sections; the Devils Tower approach and monument entry fee applies at the end. Dispersed camping is available in Thunder Basin. Cell service is essentially absent until you reach Hulett.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 98 mi / 157 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5100 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Sundance, WY |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Thunder Basin National Grassland / National Park Service — Devils Tower NM |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Thunder Basin National Grassland — USFS Devils Tower NM — NPS |
| 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 this trail, or do I need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD is the minimum — a bone-stock Tacoma or 4Runner will get through in dry conditions. Aired-down tires and a skid plate are worth having; the mixed dirt and gravel surface throws up rocks and has enough ruts to catch low-hanging bumpers.
When does this route typically become impassable, and is it driveable in early spring?
Best window is May through October. Spring snowmelt turns the grassland two-tracks into clay soup that'll swallow tires — late April and early May are dicey. Check with Thunder Basin USFS before going in spring; sections can be gated or just stupid muddy.
Do I need a permit to drive through, and is there a fee for the Devils Tower section?
No permit is needed to drive the Thunder Basin National Grassland portion. Devils Tower National Monument charges a vehicle entry fee ($25 as of 2024) if you're finishing the route and entering the monument — bring cash or a card, and an America the Beautiful pass covers it.
What's the hardest section of this route and what should I actually be ready for?
The toughest stretches come on the Belle Fourche River bench where loose gravel and eroded shelf road segments demand attention — it's not technical rock crawling, but one bad line near a dropoff gets expensive fast. The 1,800-foot cumulative gain is gradual, but wet conditions on the pine ridgeline section will make it feel significantly harder.
There's zero cell service listed — how far is the nearest gas from the trail, and is there any water available at Government Holes?
Sundance, WY is your closest resupply and fuel stop; tank up there before heading out because there's nothing on route for the full 98 miles. Government Holes has historically had stock water, but treat anything you pull from it — bring enough carrying capacity to be self-sufficient for the entire run.
Trail track
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