Riding Wyoming
Wyoming motorcycle rides: Bighorns, Yellowstone and the open road
Wyoming motorcycle rides run from the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and the Beartooth near Cody to the Bighorn Mountains, Wind River Canyon, the Snowy Range and the parks around Jackson. The season is short, the wind is real and the distances are long, but the roads are some of the best in the West. Here's the guide.
- Main season
- June to September
- Helmet law
- Some riders
- Lane splitting
- Not legal
- Rippin' price
- Free
Why ride Wyoming
Why Wyoming motorcycle rides are worth the miles
Wyoming has the fewest people of any state and a lot of very good road. Once you leave the interstates, you get mountain passes, red canyons and high plains with almost no traffic.
Northwest Wyoming (Cody, Jackson, Yellowstone and Grand Teton) is the headline. Cody sits at the base of the Chief Joseph, the Beartooth and the road to Yellowstone's east entrance. North-central Wyoming has the Bighorn Mountains, with three paved crossings that are all worth riding.
Central Wyoming has Wind River Canyon and the road over Togwotee Pass toward the Tetons. Southern Wyoming (Cheyenne, Laramie) has the Snowy Range, and the I-80 corridor most riders cross quickly. The northeast around Devils Tower sees heavy rally traffic during Sturgis week.
Best roads
The best motorcycle roads in Wyoming
Paved and well known. Check WYDOT road conditions and park sites before you go. Mountain roads close for snow and construction.
- Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296)Off WY 120 north of Cody, over the summit and down the Clarks Fork to US 212 near Cooke City. Big switchbacks and a huge overlook. Watch for gravel in the hairpins and cattle on the road.
- Beartooth Highway (US 212)Climbs over Beartooth Pass at nearly 11,000 feet between Cooke City and Red Lodge, Montana. Alpine lakes and snowbanks in July. Typically open late May to mid-October, and snow can close it any month.
- Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway (US 14/16/20)Cody west through the Wapiti Valley to Yellowstone's east entrance, with rock formations along the North Fork of the Shoshone River. Watch for wildlife and RV traffic.
- Bighorn Scenic Byway (US 14)Dayton over the Bighorns past Burgess Junction and down Shell Canyon past Shell Falls to Greybull. Switchbacks, canyon walls and meadows. Watch for cattle and deer up top.
- Medicine Wheel Passage (US 14A)Burgess Junction to Lovell over the northern Bighorns, with very steep grades on the west side. Spectacular and demanding. Use engine braking on the descent. Closed in winter.
- Cloud Peak Skyway (US 16)Buffalo over Powder River Pass, above 9,000 feet, and down through Ten Sleep Canyon. Long curves and red rock at the bottom. Watch for snow early and late in the season.
- Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway (US 20)Shoshoni to Thermopolis through a deep canyon with signs marking rock layers billions of years old. End at the hot springs in Thermopolis. Watch for rockfall in the canyon.
- Snowy Range Scenic Byway (WY 130)Centennial over the Medicine Bow Mountains, above 10,000 feet, to Saratoga. Lakes under bare peaks. Closed in winter, and cold up top in summer.
- Togwotee Pass (US 26/287)Dubois over the pass to Moran Junction with your first big view of the Tetons on the way down. Watch for wildlife and cold weather at the top.
- Teton Pass (WY 22)Wilson over the pass toward Victor, Idaho, with very steep grades. A 2024 landslide closed it for weeks, so check WYDOT for current conditions. Watch your brakes on the way down.
- Yellowstone Grand Loop RoadThe figure-eight through Yellowstone past geysers, canyons and lakes. Slow and spectacular. Watch for bison in the road, stopped cars and park entry fees. Most park roads close to regular traffic in winter.
When to ride
When is motorcycle season in Wyoming?
June through September is the reliable window. Many high roads, including the Beartooth, Medicine Wheel Passage and the Snowy Range, close for winter and open when the snow clears in late spring.
Snow can fall any month at elevation. A cold front can put snow on the Beartooth or Powder River Pass in July. Pack layers and check forecasts for the passes, not just the towns.
Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms and hail. Fall brings crisp, clear days and fewer crowds in the parks, but early storms. In the south, wind is a factor in every season.
Laws
Wyoming motorcycle laws: helmets and lane splitting
Helmets. Wyoming requires helmets for some riders, mainly younger riders; the age and conditions are set in state law. See the IIHS helmet law overview for the current rule. Whatever the law says for you, wear one.
Lane splitting and filtering. As of 2026, Wyoming law doesn't allow lane splitting or filtering. Several states are changing their laws, so check before you ride.
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the Wyoming statute or the state DMV before you ride.
Events
Wyoming motorcycle events and the riding calendar
Wyoming's biggest motorcycle week happens next door. During the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota every August, riders pour into northeast Wyoming for Devils Tower, Sundance and the Bighorns, and roads in that corner get very busy. Check the organizer for dates. The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride runs in cities worldwide in May.
Most weeks, the riding calendar is bike nights, meets, charity rides and toy runs. Rippin' puts them on one events map covering the whole US, so you can find what's near you and RSVP. Riders can post their own meets, and shops and clubs can host recurring meets and official events with Organizer Pro. See motorcycle events in Rippin'.
Live from the app
Wyoming on Rippin' right now.
0 upcoming events and 0 rider-added roads in Wyoming on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
No Wyoming events are on the Rippin' map yet. Know a bike night, rally or charity ride? Post it in the app under Meets, or have the organizer add it, and it shows up here and on the map for every rider nearby.
No Wyoming roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
Local knowledge
Wyoming riding tips
- Respect the windSouthern Wyoming, especially I-80 between Laramie and Rawlins, is known for strong winds and closures to light, high-profile vehicles. Check WYDOT before you cross.
- Pronghorn, deer and elkWildlife is on the road everywhere. Pronghorn on the plains, deer and elk in the mountains, bison in Yellowstone.
- Fuel and servicesGaps between towns are long. Fill up before every mountain crossing and empty stretch.
- Steep descentsUS 14A, Teton Pass and the Beartooth have long, steep grades. Downshift and use engine braking to keep your brakes cool.
- Cold at the topA warm day in Cody can mean near freezing on the Beartooth. Bring real layers and gloves.
Rippin' in Wyoming
The free motorcycle app for Wyoming riders
Rippin' is free on iPhone and Android. Tap Record Ride once and pocket the phone. It tracks route, miles, moving time, elevation and speed, then gives you a Ride Wrapped recap.
Turf. Close a loop and the land inside becomes your turf on the live map. A Cody loop over the Chief Joseph and back through the Beartooth, or a Bighorns loop over US 14 and US 16, covers a lot of ground. Nearly all of Wyoming is unclaimed, and empty land is free to claim. See Turf Wars.
Poker stops and roads. Riders collect a card at each poker stop; Wyoming cafes, saloons and shops can become stops through partners. Riders can add a road for the Rippin' team to check. Plan a multi-day route with the AI ride planner or build one by tapping roads with the loop builder.
Honest note: Rippin' started in Southern California and Wyoming has very few riders and roads in the app so far. Rippin' has no offline maps, and cell coverage is thin in Wyoming, so carry a backup. The upside is a wide-open map.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Wyoming?
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and the Beartooth Highway near Cody top most lists. In the Bighorns, US 14 through Shell Canyon is a favorite.
When is motorcycle season in Wyoming?
June through September is the reliable window. High roads close in winter and snow can fall at elevation any month.
Is lane splitting legal in Wyoming?
As of 2026, Wyoming law doesn't allow lane splitting or filtering. Several states are changing their laws, so check before you ride.
Do you have to wear a helmet in Wyoming?
Wyoming requires helmets for some riders, mainly younger riders; the age and conditions are set in state law. Wear one anyway.
Is there a free motorcycle app for Wyoming riders?
Yes. Rippin' is free on iPhone and Android with ride recording, turf, poker runs, events and squads. Wyoming turf is nearly all unclaimed.
Where are motorcycle events in Wyoming?
The busiest motorcycle week is Sturgis rally week in August, when riders flood northeast Wyoming. For local meets and bike nights, check the Rippin' events map.
Wide open state, wide open map.
Download Rippin' free, loop the Bighorns or the Chief Joseph and claim the turf before anyone else.