Middle Fork Powder River Road

This forgotten coal country route winds through some of Wyoming’s most remote terrain, following the Middle Fork of the Powder River through abandoned mining camps and past the skeletal remains of tipples that once fed America’s railroads. The road starts near Kaycee and pushes north through rolling sagebrush country before climbing into the eastern flanks of the Big Horn Mountains, passing the crumbling foundations of Sussex and other ghost camps where miners once pulled black diamonds from the earth.

It’s a moderate route suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though spring mud and winter snow can make it impassable for months. The road runs roughly 45 miles of mixed dirt and gravel, best tackled May through October when creek crossings are manageable. No permits needed, plenty of dispersed camping along the river, and you’ll have the entire drainage to yourself most days. Bring extra fuel and water — this isn’t tourist country, it’s working ranch land with genuine solitude.