Wyoming road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Wyoming, from Cody to the Snowy Range
The best motorcycle roads in Wyoming climb out of wide basins into big mountains: the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and the Beartooth Highway above Cody, the road to Yellowstone's east gate, the Tetons over Togwotee Pass, three paved crossings of the Bighorns, Wind River Canyon and the Snowy Range. Here are 15, grouped by region, with why each is worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 15
- Regions
- 4
- Main season
- June to September
- Check before you go
- wyoroad.info
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Wyoming
Wyoming's great roads sit in its mountain ranges, with long basin and prairie miles between them. A good trip links two or three ranges: the Absarokas and Beartooths around Cody, the Tetons and the Wind Rivers to the west, the Bighorns in the north and the Medicine Bow in the south. The Wyoming state guide has the overview. This page goes road by road.
Plenty of high roads shut for the winter, and any pass can see snow in summer. Check WYDOT's road conditions and the park sites before you go, and see the best time to ride in Wyoming for opening patterns. Fuel up before every mountain crossing: towns are far apart.
Cody and Yellowstone
Cody, the Beartooth and Yellowstone
- 1. Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296)Why: From WY 120 north of Cody, up through Sunlight Basin, over Dead Indian Pass with a huge overlook, across a high bridge over Sunlight Creek and down the Clarks Fork valley to US 212 near the Montana line. The route follows the path of the Nez Perce flight of 1877. Watch for: Loose gravel in the tight corners, open-range cattle and wildlife. Best season: June to September.
- 2. Beartooth Highway (US 212)Why: From Cooke City east over Beartooth Pass at nearly 11,000 feet, across an alpine plateau of lakes and snowbanks, then down a wall of switchbacks to Red Lodge, Montana. Link it with the Chief Joseph for one of the best loops in the West. Watch for: Cold, wind and snow at the top in any month, stopped cars and heavy summer traffic. It typically opens in late May and closes in mid-October. Best season: July to September.
- 3. Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway (US 14/16/20)Why: From Cody west through the tunnels of Shoshone Canyon, past Buffalo Bill Reservoir and up the Wapiti Valley along the North Fork of the Shoshone River to Yellowstone's East Entrance, with wild rock formations on the cliffs. Inside the park, Sylvan Pass leads to Yellowstone Lake. Watch for: Wildlife, including grizzly bears in the valley, RV traffic and the park's seasonal schedule for the East Entrance. Best season: June to September.
- 4. Yellowstone Grand Loop RoadWhy: The figure-eight through Yellowstone, past Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley and Yellowstone Lake, with the high road over Dunraven Pass. Slow and unforgettable. Watch for: Bison on the road (give them lots of room), stopped cars at every animal, low park speed limits and the entrance fee. Most park roads close to regular traffic from early November into spring. Best season: June to September, early in the day.
Jackson and the Tetons
The Tetons, Jackson and the western passes
- 5. Grand Teton National Park roadsWhy: The Teton Park Road from Moose past Jenny Lake and Signal Mountain to Jackson Lake Junction, with the whole range across the meadows, and US 191 down the east side past the Snake River Overlook. Watch for: Bison, moose, elk and bears, stopped cars, the park fee, and the narrow Signal Mountain summit road. The Teton Park Road closes to vehicles over winter. Best season: June to September.
- 6. Togwotee Pass (US 26/287)Why: From Dubois past the red badlands and the Pinnacle Buttes, over Togwotee Pass above 9,500 feet, then down to Moran Junction with your first big view of the Tetons. Part of the Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway. Watch for: Grizzly country, cold at the top, wildlife at dusk and construction zones. Best season: June to September.
- 7. Teton Pass (WY 22)Why: From Wilson, a short, steep climb over Teton Pass toward Victor, Idaho, with views back over Jackson Hole. Watch for: Very steep grades, so use engine braking on the way down; heavy commuter traffic; and repair work. A landslide collapsed part of the road in 2024 and closed it for weeks, so check WYDOT for current conditions. Best season: June to September.
- 8. Hoback Canyon (US 189/191)Why: South from Hoback Junction through the Hoback River canyon, past Bondurant and over the Hoback Rim to the open ranch country around Pinedale, with the Wind River Range on the horizon. Watch for: Pronghorn and deer, trucks, and wind on the open stretches south of the rim. Best season: June to September.
The Bighorns
The Bighorn Mountains and Wind River Canyon
- 9. Bighorn Scenic Byway (US 14)Why: From Dayton up big switchbacks past the Fallen City rockfall, across high meadows at Burgess Junction and over Granite Pass, then down Shell Canyon past Shell Falls to Greybull. Every kind of riding in one road. Watch for: Gravel on the switchbacks, and cattle and deer in the high meadows. Best season: June to September.
- 10. Medicine Wheel Passage (US 14A)Why: From Burgess Junction west across the northern Bighorns, past the turnoff to the ancient Medicine Wheel, then down one of the steepest descents on any Wyoming highway to Lovell. Spectacular and demanding. Watch for: Long, very steep grades, so downshift and use engine braking; cold and wind on top. Closed in winter. Best season: July to September.
- 11. Cloud Peak Skyway (US 16)Why: From Buffalo over Powder River Pass, above 9,500 feet, then down through the red walls of Ten Sleep Canyon to the town of Ten Sleep and on toward Worland. Long curves and a great descent. Watch for: Deer, cattle, and snow on the pass in early and late season. Best season: June to September.
- 12. Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway (US 20)Why: From Shoshoni past Boysen Reservoir and through tunnels into a deep canyon, where roadside signs name each rock formation, the oldest of them billions of years old, to Thermopolis and its hot springs. Watch for: Rockfall, tight bends and slow sightseers. Best season: May to October.
South and northeast
The Snowy Range, the Sierra Madre and Devils Tower
Two more for the south: Happy Jack Road on WY 210, a curvy alternative to I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie, and US 191 and WY 530 around Flaming Gorge south of Rock Springs.
- 13. Snowy Range Scenic Byway (WY 130)Why: From Centennial over Snowy Range Pass, above 10,800 feet, past lakes under the bare quartzite cliffs of Medicine Bow Peak, then down to Saratoga. The best road in southern Wyoming. Watch for: Cold up top in midsummer, afternoon storms and slow traffic at the lakes. Closed in winter, typically from fall to late May. Best season: July to September.
- 14. WY 70 over Battle PassWhy: From Encampment west over the Sierra Madre at Battle Pass, near 10,000 feet, through forest and aspen down toward Baggs. Remote and almost empty. Watch for: No services, wildlife, and a winter closure. Best season: July to September.
- 15. Devils Tower and WY 24Why: From US 14 north to Devils Tower National Monument, the rock tower that rises over the Belle Fourche River, then on through Hulett and the rolling pine hills toward Aladdin. Watch for: The monument fee, pedestrians at the tower, deer, and very heavy traffic during Sturgis rally week in August. Best season: May to September.
Summary
Wyoming motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Joseph Scenic Byway | Cody | Jun to Sep |
| Beartooth Highway | Cody | Jul to Sep, closed winter |
| Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway | Cody | Jun to Sep |
| Yellowstone Grand Loop | Yellowstone | Jun to Sep |
| Grand Teton park roads | Tetons | Jun to Sep |
| Togwotee Pass | Tetons | Jun to Sep |
| Teton Pass | Jackson | Jun to Sep |
| Hoback Canyon | Jackson to Pinedale | Jun to Sep |
| Bighorn Scenic Byway | Bighorns | Jun to Sep |
| Medicine Wheel Passage | Bighorns | Jul to Sep, closed winter |
| Cloud Peak Skyway | Bighorns | Jun to Sep |
| Wind River Canyon | Central | May to Oct |
| Snowy Range Scenic Byway | South | Jul to Sep, closed winter |
| WY 70 over Battle Pass | South | Jul to Sep, closed winter |
| Devils Tower and WY 24 | Northeast | May to Sep |
In the app
Rider-added Wyoming roads in Rippin'
Below are the Wyoming roads riders have added to Rippin' so far. Wyoming is wide open in the app, so if one of these classics is missing, add it. Ride it with Rippin' recording, open Segments and tap Create a Segment: drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on our team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it. See how roads get added.
Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads. A segment board is about who owns the road and who rides it, not a race. On a 10 percent grade with bison around the corner, slow is smart.
Big loops claim big turf. Cody up the Chief Joseph, over the Beartooth to Red Lodge and back down to Cody closes a loop, and so does the Bighorns circuit over US 14 and back on US 16. Close one and the land inside becomes yours on the live map.
Live from the app
Wyoming on Rippin' right now.
1 upcoming event 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 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.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Wyoming?
Start with the pair above Cody: the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and the Beartooth Highway. In the Bighorns, US 14 through Shell Canyon is a favorite, and the Snowy Range is the pick in the south.
When does the Beartooth Highway open?
It typically opens in late May and closes in mid-October, weather permitting. Snow can close it for a day in any month.
Which Bighorn Mountains road is best on a motorcycle?
All three are worth it. US 14 has the most variety, with Shell Canyon and Shell Falls. US 16 has the great Ten Sleep Canyon descent. US 14A is the steepest and most dramatic, and closes in winter.
Is Teton Pass open?
It reopened after a 2024 landslide collapsed part of the road, but repair work and closures can happen. Check WYDOT before you go.
Can you ride a motorcycle through Yellowstone?
Yes. Motorcycles pay the park entrance fee and ride the same roads as cars. Most roads close to regular traffic from early November into spring, and bison often block the road.
Can I add Wyoming roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Be first on Wyoming's map.
Download Rippin' free, ride one of these roads with it recording and add it. Your name stays on it.
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