In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Sheridan over Granite Pass and Ten Sleep Canyon to Cloud Peak, then through wide prairie to Devils Tower and the western edge of the Black Hills.
The spirit of the route
The Bighorn Mountains stand like an island in the prairie: beyond Sheridan they begin gently, with poplars on the Tongue River, then the road works its way up in hairpins into conifer forest and over the tree line. On the high plateaus lie lakes, snowfields until July and meadows of wildflowers. In the Cloud Peak Wilderness the peak of the same name, at 4,013 metres, towers above everything. Ten Sleep Canyon cuts into the range with steep limestone walls, and climbers hang in the cliffs. Then on east, until a rock appears on the horizon: Devils Tower, a column of basalt columns rising out of the prairie, sacred to many tribes. At night the Milky Way glows above the Belle Fourche River. After that into the Black Hills foreland with pine forests and quiet lakes. A route for wind, space and thin air.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Sheridan to Shell Falls (Bighorn National Forest) (approx. 150 km)
- The drive
- From Sheridan on US 14 west through Dayton and Tongue River Canyon, then with hairpins and climbs to Burgess Junction and on over Granite Pass (around 2,750 m) to Shell Falls. Further on comes the descent through Shell Canyon with a steep gradient, in places around 10%, with warning signs; for motorhomes and combinations check your brakes and use a low gear. The road is free of snow in summer only, mostly until October; dates vary. Driving time about 3 hours; with stops, a whole day.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Tongue River Canyon near Dayton: a narrow limestone gorge with the river, short trails; quiet in spring and autumn.
- Granite Pass and Bighorn National Forest: high plateaus, lakes and meadows, wildflowers in summer, golden aspens in autumn.
- Shell Falls: a waterfall in a gorge on US 14, with a viewing platform and short trail; there is a larger car park for vehicles.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Bighorn National Forest (Forest Service): Sibley Lake Campground and other simple campgrounds along US 14, such as Shell Creek Campground; check opening, length, electricity and reservations on Recreation.gov. In Sheridan there are private RV parks with hookups.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Bighorn National Forest, dispersed camping is allowed in many places, mostly for up to 14 days at the same spot and at a distance from lakeshores and roads; observe the signs and Forest Service maps, check fire bans. In car parks and in towns, overnighting is prohibited.
- Insider tip for campers
- Before the climb, get water, propane and food in Sheridan; there are hardly any shops in the mountains. The weather turns quickly, and even in summer thunderstorms and hail are possible; check pass and road status with WYDOT.
2Stage 2: Shell Falls to Ten Sleep (approx. 190 km)
- The drive
- From Shell on along US 14 to Greybull, then US 16/20 via Basin and Worland to Ten Sleep. The route runs through the Bighorn Basin, flat to hilly, dry, with wind and wide views. The section takes about 2.5 hours; the rest of the day is free for the town and the entrance to the canyon.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Bighorn Basin: a basin landscape with badlands and farmland, geologically known for fossils; viewpoints by the roadside.
- Worland and Ten Sleep: small towns with local food, cafés and a little shopping; Ten Sleep is the starting point for the canyon.
- Ten Sleep Canyon (start): limestone walls and climbing routes; the gorge begins right behind the town.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: In and around Ten Sleep there are small campgrounds in Bighorn National Forest, such as Deer Park Campground on US 16 in the canyon; check opening, length and reservations in advance. Private RV parks in Worland and Ten Sleep offer hookups.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): On BLM land and in Bighorn National Forest, dispersed camping is possible in some places; near towns and in car parks it is prohibited. Access roads on gravel are narrow for large motorhomes.
- Insider tip for campers
- Ten Sleep is a good place to fill up and shop before the climb; there are no shops in the canyon. If you want to climb, pay attention to local information on routes and closures.
3Stage 3: Ten Sleep to Buffalo (approx. 110 km)
- The drive
- On US 16 east through Ten Sleep Canyon, then over Powder River Pass (around 2,950 m) and the Cloud Peak Skyway to Buffalo. The ascent in the canyon is steep and winding, with gradient signs; the pass lies above the tree line. The road is often closed in winter, mostly from October to May. Driving time about 2.5 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Ten Sleep Canyon: limestone walls with waterfalls and rock needles, viewpoints along the road.
- Powder River Pass and Cloud Peak Skyway: wide tundra with views of the Cloud Peak Wilderness; Cloud Peak reaches 4,013 m.
- Buffalo: a Western town with the Johnson County Museum and the Occidental Hotel; streets with historic character.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Bighorn National Forest: campgrounds at Powder River Pass and in the canyon, such as Deer Park Campground; check status and length in advance. In Buffalo there are private RV parks as well as municipal campgrounds; check selection and prices on the spot.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Bighorn National Forest, dispersed camping is allowed; at the top of the pass, notices and closures apply, observe fire bans. In Buffalo, overnighting on streets and in car parks is prohibited.
- Insider tip for campers
- For the Cloud Peak Wilderness you need hiking experience and a hiking map; the trails are long. Motorhomes with trailers should take the climbs in a low gear and plan breaks to let the brakes cool.
4Stage 4: Buffalo to Devils Tower (approx. 220 km)
- The drive
- From Buffalo on I-90 east to Gillette, then on along I-90 to Moorcroft and on US 14 and WY 24 to Devils Tower. The route runs through prairie with little traffic, 65 to 80 mph on the interstate; the last miles to the tower are two-lane. Driving time about 3 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Devils Tower National Monument: the first national monument in the USA (1906); the column rises about 260 m above the surrounding terrain, and the Tower Trail loop is about 2 km long.
- Belle Fourche River at the foot of the tower: meadows with prairie dogs, trails and a calm evening mood.
- Starry sky: in clear weather the area offers good views of the Milky Way; for information on ranger programmes see nps.gov.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Belle Fourche River Campground in Devils Tower National Monument: a simple campground by the river below the tower, without electricity, with water and toilets, first-come, first-served (no reservations via Recreation.gov), vehicles up to about 35 ft; check opening times and current limits on nps.gov. Nearby is Devils Tower KOA as a private campground; check the status.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the monument, free camping is prohibited. In Black Hills National Forest and at Cook Lake there are Forest Service campgrounds and dispersed camping in some places; check access roads and rules in advance.
- Insider tip for campers
- In June, tribes ask for voluntary avoidance of climbing the tower because of traditional ceremonies; observe the park’s notices. Fill up with fuel before you arrive; there is no shop in the monument.
5Stage 5: Devils Tower to Newcastle (approx. 130 km)
- The drive
- From Devils Tower via WY 24 and US 14 to Sundance, then on WY 585 south to Four Corners and on US 85 through the western edge of the Black Hills to Newcastle. Two-lane roads with bends through pine forest, little traffic, speed 55 to 65 mph. Driving time about 2 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Sundance: a Western town with a small museum, starting point for trips into the Black Hills; namesake of the outlaw Sundance Kid.
- Cook Lake Recreation Area: a lake in Black Hills National Forest with trails and fishing, quiet and away from the main traffic.
- Black Hills National Forest west side: viewpoints and forest trails; the area is less visited than the South Dakota side.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Cook Lake Campground (Black Hills National Forest) and Keyhole State Park on Keyhole Reservoir near Pine Haven (near Moorcroft, off the route) offer sites by the water; check electricity, length and reservations in advance. In Newcastle there is a small municipal campground; ask about its status on the spot.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Black Hills National Forest, dispersed camping is allowed in many places, mostly for up to 14 days; observe fire bans and signage. In towns, overnighting on streets is prohibited.
- Insider tip for campers
- Get water, propane and food in Newcastle; supplies will last for the drive back to the interstate. If you want to go further east, you reach Custer and Mount Rushmore via US 16 in about 1.5 hours.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Dispersed camping in Wyoming is mostly allowed on National Forest and BLM land for up to 14 days at the same spot; in Bighorn National Forest, distance rules from lakes, roads and waters also apply. In national monuments such as Devils Tower, free camping is prohibited.
- Fire bans often apply to entire forest districts in late summer; campfires only in fire rings and at a permitted level. Check the current rules with the Forest Service.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt; reservations via Recreation.gov. Road conditions at WYDOT (wyoroad.info).
- Wildlife: black bears, moose, mule deer and prairie dogs; secure food in the vehicle at night. Bears are rare in the Bighorn area, but possible.
- Weather: in the mountains it can still snow in June; road conditions vary greatly.
Waste disposal & supplies
- There are dump stations in Sheridan, Buffalo, Gillette and Newcastle and on some campgrounds; check location and fee beforehand.
- Drinking water: tap water is drinkable; in the mountains only at a few taps, so fill canisters.
- Empty grey water and chemical toilets only at disposal points.
- Propane in Sheridan, Buffalo, Gillette and Newcastle; European bottles need adapters.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Sheridan, Buffalo, Gillette and Newcastle; few shops between the towns.
- Electricity: private campgrounds offer 30 and 50 A; Forest Service campgrounds mostly do not.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits in mph: interstates up to 80, highways 55 to 70, on mountain roads lower values; US 14 at Shell Canyon has a steep gradient in places with warning signs.
- Tolls: none on the route.
- Dimensions: Wyoming allows up to 14 ft in height (motorhomes are mostly well below that); many campgrounds limit length to 30 to 40 ft, check before booking.
- Reservations: campgrounds in Bighorn National Forest via Recreation.gov; Belle Fourche River Campground is first-come, first-served and takes no reservations via Recreation.gov; check the status on nps.gov.
- Weather: afternoon thunderstorms and hail; snow in the mountains in spring and autumn; passes can be closed at short notice.
- Traffic law: a right turn on red after stopping is allowed where not prohibited; open alcohol containers prohibited; seat belt and child seat rules apply.
- Wind: on the interstate and in the prairie, crosswinds can strongly affect high-sided vehicles; drive more slowly.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Warm layers and a windproof jacket: on the passes, temperatures near zero degrees and strong wind prevail even in summer.
- Brake check and articulated wrench: the descents in Shell and Ten Sleep Canyon are long, and a low gear protects the brakes.
- Binoculars for wildlife and climbers; head torch for the starry sky at Devils Tower.
- Water canisters: taps are rare in the highlands and in the prairie.
- Offline maps: in the Bighorns and in the Black Hills foreland there is often no reception.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
.jpg){kind=link}