Lonesome Highway — Bighorn Basin to Cloud Peak via Shell Canyon Road and Medicine Wheel
Sacred plateau, limestone gorge, Wyoming sky.
US-14A climbs out of the Bighorn Basin at Greybull through Shell Canyon — a vertical-walled limestone gorge with a waterfall visible from the road — before topping out on the Bighorn Plateau above 9,000 feet. But the real overland run branches off the pavement at the Medicine Wheel Road (Forest Road 12), a rough 1.5-mile spur to the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark, a 75-foot stone circle built by Indigenous peoples and still used for ceremony today. Beyond the medicine wheel, a network of high-country forest roads threads across the plateau, connecting to the Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary and the upper drainages of the Tongue River. The views from up here — across the Bighorn Basin to the Absarokas — are the kind that make you sit on your hood for an hour.
The Medicine Wheel Road itself is well-graded gravel, open to most high-clearance vehicles. The connecting forest roads toward Cloud Peak are another story — rocky two-track that rewards 4WD and a locking diff when wet. Snow can persist on the plateau well into July. The Medicine Wheel area has access restrictions during certain ceremonial periods, so check with the Bighorn National Forest before you run it. No dispersed camping immediately around the medicine wheel, but plenty of options on national forest land to the south. Fuel in Lovell or Greybull before you climb.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61.2 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9642 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Greybull, Wyoming |
| Land manager | Bighorn National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler handle this route without modifications?
Yes — a stock 4WD with high clearance is the minimum and handles this fine in dry conditions. The gravel and rock sections through Shell Canyon aren't technical, but you want real ground clearance; a Subaru or crossover will get you into trouble on the rougher stretches.
When does this route actually open and close each year?
July through September is the reliable window. Snow can close the upper plateau and Medicine Wheel access road well into June and return fast in October — Bighorn National Forest confirms current road status at (307) 674-2600 before you commit.
Do I need a permit to visit Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark?
No permit is required to visit Medicine Wheel, but the final 1.5-mile approach road is typically restricted to foot traffic during peak season — you park and walk in. Respect site protocols; it's an actively used sacred site for multiple Native American tribes.
What's the hardest section on this route and what should I actually expect?
The climb out of Shell Canyon toward the plateau is the steepest and most exposed stretch — loose rock, tight turns, and a 4,200-foot elevation gain in a short run. Nothing requires lockers or a spotter, but brake fade is real on the descent if you're heavy and pushing it.
Is there any water or gas between Greybull and the plateau, and can I camp up top?
Fuel up in Greybull before you leave — there's nothing on route. Dispersed camping is available in Bighorn National Forest once you're on the plateau; no hookups, no services, pack your water or filter from streams. Cell service is nonexistent for the entire 38 miles.
Trail track
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