Battle Pass Scenic Byway is a 57-mile paved highway, WY-70, that crosses the Sierra Madre at Battle Pass, 9,955 feet on the Continental Divide. The route runs between Encampment on the upper North Platte and Baggs in the Little Snake River drainage on Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. The byway is one of two paved routes across the Sierra Madre and is named for the Battle Townsite, a 19th-century mining camp at the pass.

The road closes seasonally with snow, typically from late October to mid-May on the high stretch. Most drivers run the byway in 90 minutes to two hours. There are no technical obstacles. The interest is the Sierra Madre crossing, access to FS dispersed camping and trailheads, and connection to the Snowy Range Byway via Encampment.

Trailhead: 41.05330, -106.94940

Technical Difficulty: easy
Length: 57 miles
Direction: Point to point
Vehicle: Any street-legal vehicle. Paved its full length. Closes seasonally with snow on the high stretch.
Nearest town: Encampment, Wyoming
Terrain: Paved highway crossing the Sierra Madre via Battle Pass at 9,955 feet on the Continental Divide, between the upper North Platte at Encampment and the Little Snake River at Baggs.
Cell coverage: None on the high stretch; service in Encampment and Baggs.
Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Management: U.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Department of Transportation
Trailhead: 41.05330, -106.94940

Resources

Plan in Epic Plans Official site Open in Google Maps

Directions

From Saratoga / Encampment (east entrance). Take WY-130 south to Saratoga, then WY-230 to Encampment. Turn west on WY-70.

From Baggs (west entrance). From WY-789 at Baggs, turn east on WY-70.

Photos · 1

Getting Oriented

The byway runs east-west on WY-70 between Encampment (south of Saratoga in the North Platte valley) and Baggs (in the Little Snake River valley near the Colorado line). Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest's Brush Creek-Hayden Ranger District manages the FS lands along the corridor. The Sierra Madre is the southern continuation of the Park Range.

Trail Overview

Fifty-seven miles, point-to-point, paved. The eastern climb out of Encampment gains about 2,500 feet to Battle Pass; the western descent drops about the same to Baggs through more gradual grade. The Continental Divide Trail crosses the byway at Battle Pass. There are no off-road sections.

Points of Interest

Battle Pass (9,955 ft). Continental Divide. Battle Townsite Overlook with interpretive signs about the 1890s mining era.
Battle Townsite. Adjacent ghost-town site at the pass; foundation remains visible.
Aspen Alley. A signed turnoff on the byway that drives through a tunnel of mature aspen, particularly photogenic in late September.
Encampment. Old smelter town with the Grand Encampment Museum and ghost-town reconstructions.
Continental Divide Trail. Crosses the byway at Battle Pass; multiple trailheads.

Where to Camp

Medicine Bow-Routt maintains several developed campgrounds along or near the byway: Lost Creek, Battle Creek, Haskins Creek, Bottle Creek, and Jack Creek. Dispersed camping is allowed on FS land off side roads with the standard 16-day stay limit. Encampment and Baggs have private campgrounds.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

Aspen Alley in late September is one of the better aspen-color displays in Wyoming. Plan around the third week of September.
The byway closes from late October through mid-May on the high stretch. Confirm with WYDOT 511.
Combine with the Snowy Range Scenic Byway via Saratoga and Encampment for a Sierra Madre-and-Snowy-Range loop.
Top off in Encampment or Baggs. There is no fuel on the byway.
The Grand Encampment Museum is a worthwhile stop on the eastern approach.

Hazards

Seasonal closures. WY-70 closes from late October through mid-May on the high stretch.
High elevation. Battle Pass tops 9,955 feet. Watch for altitude effects.
Wildlife. Elk, deer, and the occasional moose cross the road.
Limited services. No fuel between Encampment and Baggs.
Crosswinds. Particularly on the western descent into the Little Snake valley.