Getting Oriented
The road leaves Wyoming 296, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, at the bottom of Dead Indian Pass, near the Sunlight Creek Bridge, the highest bridge in Wyoming at about 285 feet over the gorge. From there it drops into Sunlight Basin and follows Sunlight Creek southwest into the Absaroka foothills. The Shoshone National Forest's Clarks Fork Ranger District manages the upper road; the lower basin crosses private ranch land in the small Sunlight community.
Trail Overview
Sunlight Basin Road is graded gravel with stretches of severe washboard. The Forest Service rates the lower road passable for RVs up to about 22 feet, but a high-clearance vehicle is the right tool for the rougher upper miles and the best riverside camps. It runs roughly 22 miles to a North Absaroka Wilderness trailhead, where it dead-ends, so plan an out-and-back. The road is open in summer and fall and closes under snow for the winter.
Points of Interest
- Sunlight Creek Gorge and Bridge. The Wyoming 296 bridge at the road's head spans the gorge about 285 feet up, the highest in the state.
- Sunlight Ranger Station. A historic Forest Service guard cabin in the basin, rentable through Recreation.gov.
- Little Sunlight Camping Area. A small Forest Service campground about 12 miles in at the wilderness trailhead.
- Dead Indian Pass Overlook. The 8,070-foot pass above the basin, with views across the Absaroka and Beartooth country.
Where to Camp
The Little Sunlight Camping Area has a handful of Forest Service sites near the wilderness boundary, and dispersed camping is allowed along Sunlight Creek. The historic Sunlight Ranger Cabin rents through Recreation.gov. There are no services in the basin.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- This is active grizzly country in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Carry bear spray and store food and scented items securely.
- Slow down for the washboard and watch the gorge-rim drop-offs near the head of the road.
- Summer storms slicken the surface fast; carry recovery gear.
- Top off in Cody. There is no dependable fuel or water in the basin.
- The road closes for winter and is not maintained beyond the lower basin once snow sets in.
Fuel and Water
Cody, about 45 to 50 miles east, is the last reliable fuel, water, and supplies. There is nothing dependable in the basin beyond a couple of guest ranches, so carry water.
Nearby
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, the Beartooth Highway, and Clarks Fork Canyon are all close by, and the road sits on the back way toward Yellowstone's northeast entrance. Cody has lodging, fuel, and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
