Lonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Tensleep Canyon via Shell Creek Road
Wyoming's west face drop from high timber to desert basin.
Shell Creek Road — Forest Road 17 — climbs out of the Bighorn Basin floor near Greybull and punches up through shell limestone and red shale badlands before cresting the Bighorn Mountains around 9,000 feet. The contrast is stark: you leave alkaline flats that smell like dust and sagebrush and within twenty miles you’re threading spruce forest and alpine meadow. Shell Canyon, carved by Shell Creek through the east face of the Bighorns, is the other half of this loop and runs along US-14 — but the FR 17 approach from the west is where the overland crowd earns it. The road passes through the Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site corridor, where petroglyphs and pictographs cover canyon walls that indigenous peoples used for at least 10,000 years.
The road is graded gravel with rocky sections that punish low-clearance rigs, especially after spring runoff softens the shoulders. High-clearance 4WD handles it fine in dry conditions; add lockers if you’re running it wet. The Bighorn National Forest manages this stretch and keeps the road open roughly June through October depending on snowpack — call the Paintrock Ranger District before committing in shoulder seasons. No permit required. Dispersed camping throughout the national forest. No fuel between Greybull and Tensleep, so top off. Tensleep Canyon itself is worth a slow drive even if you’ve done the Bighorns a dozen times.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 48 mi / 77.2 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9100 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Greybull, WY |
| Land manager | Bighorn National Forest — Paintrock Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Bighorn National Forest USFS |
| 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 do I need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner is the minimum — no lift required, but you want decent ground clearance for the rocky sections on the descent toward Tensleep Canyon. A lifted rig gives more margin, not a requirement.
When does Shell Creek Road typically open after winter, and is it passable in late October?
The route is generally accessible June through October. Snow closes the high-elevation sections early — at 9,100 ft max elevation, late October is a gamble and early June can still have soft mud or snow. Call the Paintrock Ranger District before going outside the June–September sweet spot.
Do I need a permit or is there a fee to drive this route?
No permit required and no fee to drive the route. It crosses Bighorn National Forest land managed by the Paintrock Ranger District — standard National Forest rules apply for dispersed camping (14-day limit, leave-no-trace).
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The steepest, rockiest stretch is the west-face descent off the Bighorns down toward Tensleep Canyon — loose rock, off-camber spots, and tight lines in places. It's moderate, not gnarly, but the combination of exposure, grade, and surface keeps you honest. Take it slow and don't rush the canyon drop.
Are there reliable water crossings on this route and should I plan water resupply?
Yes, Shell Creek crossings are present — depth varies by season and snowmelt, but they're generally passable in summer without issues. There's no resupply on this 48-mile stretch and zero cell service, so carry all drinking water you need for the day and treat any creek water before drinking.
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.