Lonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Tensleep Canyon via the Bighorn National Forest Battle Park and Hazelton Road (North Slope)
Battle Park to canyon rim — no crowds, no pavement.
The north slope of the Bighorn Mountains is drier, rockier, and a lot less crowded than the Cloud Peak Wilderness side that gets the hikers. Hazelton Road peels off US-14 east of Greybull and climbs through sage and juniper into Battle Park — a broad lodgepole bench named for an 1865 skirmish between Sioux warriors and a U.S. Army column. The road works its way south and east through Bighorn National Forest timber, crossing several small drainages and offering long views across the Bighorn Basin toward the Pryor Mountains before descending toward Tensleep Creek and the canyon rim. The transition from high plateau to the tight sandstone gorge of Ten Sleep Canyon is abrupt and genuinely dramatic — you drop from pine flats into 1,000-foot red walls in under two miles.
This is a moderate to difficult high-clearance route depending on conditions — spring runoff turns the lower crossings greasy and mid-route meadow sections can hold standing water into early July. Stock high-clearance 4WD handles it in dry summer conditions; lockers help in wet years. No permit required; Bighorn National Forest dispersed camping is allowed throughout. Best July through September. Fuel in Greybull or Buffalo — don’t push it; there’s a long stretch between either town with nothing open. Cell service is spotty at best on the high plateau and gone in the canyon approach.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 47 mi / 75.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 8760 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Greybull, WY |
| Land manager | Bighorn National Forest — Tongue Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Bighorn NF Recreation |
| 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
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or does it need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner is the minimum and will get through under normal conditions. Lifted rigs have more margin on the rougher two-track sections and any soft spots after rain, but a stock truck with a capable driver isn't out of place here.
When does this route actually open in spring, and is it passable after early September?
The north slope of the Bighorns holds snow late — this route typically doesn't clear until late June or early July, and early-season mud can be axle-deep. By late September snow can return fast; July through early September is the reliable window.
Do I need a permit to run this route or camp along it?
No permit is required to drive the route or use dispersed campsites within Bighorn National Forest. Standard forest rules apply — camp 100 feet from water and roads, pack out everything, and check with the Tongue Ranger District for any current fire restrictions before you go.
What's the hardest section on this trail and what should I actually expect?
The most demanding stretch is the descent toward Tensleep Canyon where the road narrows, gets loose, and drops sharply toward the canyon rim — it's not technical rock crawling, but it demands attention and controlled speed. After rain the clay-heavy sections on the north slope turn greasy and can stop even 4WD rigs cold, so dry conditions matter.
How far is it to the nearest gas from the trailhead, and is there reliable water on route?
Greybull is the closest fuel stop and sits roughly 30 miles from the Centennial Road start — top off there before heading in. There are water crossings on route but treat or filter anything you pull from them; carry enough to be self-sufficient for the full 47 miles since services are zero once you're in the forest.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.