Lonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Tensleep Canyon via the Cloud Peak Wilderness Edge
Bighorn's limestone walls on an empty road.
Forest Road 17 and its connector spurs off US-16 give you the west face of the Bighorns the way almost nobody sees it — through lodgepole and spruce, past hidden meadows near Tensleep Creek, and down into the canyon where sheer limestone walls close in tight above the highway. The drive links the high country between Powder River Pass and the Tensleep Canyon floor, crossing several small drainages and skirting the Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary. The canyon itself is a geological gut-punch — streaked red and cream limestone rising 1,500 feet above the creek — and the backcountry spurs off the main forest road put you far enough in that you won’t hear another engine all day.
Most of the forest roads here are graded gravel passable by most high-clearance rigs, but the spur roads toward the wilderness boundary get rocky and narrow fast — a short-wheelbase 4WD is your friend. Deadfall and washouts can close spurs without notice, especially after spring snowmelt. Best season is July through early October; the high roads can stay snowed in well into June. No permits needed for dispersed camping on Bighorn National Forest land. Fuel up in Worland or Buffalo before heading in — Ten Sleep has a small station but don’t count on it being open.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 42 mi / 67.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9660 ft |
| Best season | July-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Ten Sleep, Wyoming |
| Land manager | Bighorn National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Bighorn National Forest official site Bighorn NF Motor Vehicle Use Map |
| 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 route, or does it need to be lifted?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner will get through fine under normal summer conditions. Aired-down tires help on the loose gravel sections, but a lift isn't required — just don't attempt it in a crossover or stock 2WD truck.
When does this route typically open and close each year?
July through October is the reliable window. Snow can shut the upper elevations down hard before and after those months — the road tops out near 9,660 ft and doesn't get priority plowing. Check with Bighorn National Forest before any shoulder-season run.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp on this route?
No permit is required to drive the route or use dispersed campsites on Bighorn National Forest land. Standard National Forest rules apply — camp 100 ft from water and roads, pack out everything, no fee.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually be ready for?
The west flank descent toward Tensleep Canyon has the most sustained rough surface — loose rock, embedded limestone chunks, and some narrow shelf sections. It's rated moderate, but a blown tire here puts you a long way from help with zero cell service, so carry two spares if you can.
Are there reliable water sources along the route, or do I need to carry everything in?
There are seasonal stream crossings along the route, but treat everything — giardia is real in the Bighorns. Ten Sleep is your last guaranteed resupply point; top off fuel and water there because there's nothing between the start and end of this 42-mile stretch.
Trail track
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