Wyoming is the kind of state that resets your sense of scale. You cross a 10,000-foot pass, descend through a limestone canyon, ride forty miles of open sagebrush, and find another pass on the other side. The riding here isn't concentrated in one corridor — it's distributed across the whole map, and the distances between fuel stops are real. Plan accordingly.

Northwest Wyoming: The High-Altitude Core

The northwest corner of the state holds the most concentrated riding in Wyoming, and most riders start in Cody. The Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway (US-14/16/20) runs 27 miles west through Wapiti Valley to Yellowstone's East Entrance — volcanic rock formations line the road and wildlife sightings are common at any time of day. It's a warm-up for what comes after.

North of Cody, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296) is the state's most complete mountain road: seven switchbacks climbing to Dead Indian Pass at over 8,000 feet, then flowing curves through the Clarks Fork Valley past Sunlight Bridge — Wyoming's highest at 285 feet. At 46–47 miles, it doesn't waste a single one of them. Pair it with the Beartooth Highway (US-212) for a full 160-mile Cody loop. The Wyoming section of Beartooth climbs to 10,947 feet before the Montana state line, and the road is only open Memorial Day weekend through mid-October — sometimes later if snowpack lingers. Budget 15–20 degrees of temperature drop from the valley floor to the summit. The Beartooth Lake Viewpoint on the Wyoming side is a clean pull-out stop; Top of the World Store at 9,400 feet is the de-facto refuel and regroup point — the only gas between Red Lodge and Cooke City. Don't count on it being open in shoulder season. The Pilot & Index Peaks Overlook on US-212 is worth the stop: restrooms on site, and a clear view of the two Absaroka spires that guided early travelers into the region.

South of the Beartooth junction, Togwotee Pass — Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway (US-26/287) crosses the Continental Divide at 9,658 feet with gentle sweepers and wide mountain vistas, a notable contrast to the technical grades elsewhere in the state. It feeds into the Jackson Hole corridor, where Hoback Canyon (US-189/191) offers a quiet 30-mile river-canyon run south of Hoback Junction — genuinely low traffic compared to the park roads nearby. Teton Pass (WY-22) is the other option out of Jackson: 17 miles, grades up to 10%, tight switchbacks, and valley views on the way up. It's steep enough that it merits its own attention rather than an afterthought on a bigger day. The Oxbow Bend Turnout along US-89/191/26 is the best morning stop in Grand Teton National Park — Mount Moran reflected in the Snake River bend, moose often in the willows below.

The Bighorns: Three Passes, Three Characters

The Bighorn Mountains offer three paved crossings and each one rides differently. The Bighorn Scenic Byway — Shell Canyon (US-14) climbs 4,600 feet in 18 miles on the west approach through Shell Canyon's sheer dolomite walls past the 120-foot drop of Shell Falls — the most dramatic entry of the three. Cloud Peak Skyway (US-16) is the most rider-friendly crossing: flowing curves, minimal truck traffic, and the narrow limestone slot of Ten Sleep Canyon near the west end. The Medicine Wheel Passage (US-14A) is the most technical — 10% sustained grades, hairpins, two runaway truck ramps. Watch your brakes on the westbound descent; this isn't a road to discover your brake fade on. The Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark near the summit requires a 1.5-mile hike from the parking area — worth it if you have the legs. All three crossings meet at Burgess Junction Visitor Center, open Memorial Day through Labor Day, with restrooms and a small store.

South Wyoming: Less Traffic, Just as High

The Snowy Range Scenic Byway (WY-130) between Laramie and Saratoga crests at 10,847 feet — the second-highest pass in Wyoming — with the 12-mile high section closed mid-November to around Memorial Day. The Libby Flats Observation Site at 10,665 feet offers a 360-degree view from a stone observation tower and is one of the most accessible high-country stops in the state. If you want a road with virtually no one on it, the Battle Pass Scenic Byway (WY-70) runs 57 miles through the Sierra Madre from Encampment to Baggs, cresting the Continental Divide at 9,955 feet. Services are minimal — fuel in Encampment before you go.

Wind River Canyon

If your route takes you through central Wyoming, don't bypass Wind River Canyon on US-20 between Shoshoni and Thermopolis. The canyon walls rise 2,500 feet on both sides of the road and the highway threads three tunnels cut directly into the cliffs, following the river almost the entire way. It's about 34 miles and it rides faster than it looks on a map — tight enough to keep you focused, open enough that you can actually see the geology.

Northeast Wyoming: Devils Tower Country

In the northeast corner, the WY-24 loop through Aladdin and Hulett to Devils Tower National Monument is about 60 miles of rolling pine-forested road. It's not a technical ride, but the tower itself — rising 867 feet from the plain — is a genuine landmark worth building a morning around. During Sturgis week in early August, the town of Hulett hosts the Ham N' Jam on the Wednesday of rally week: free barbecue, live music, and thousands of bikes lined up on Main Street. If you're in the region during August, it's a worthwhile detour from the South Dakota crowds.

Plan Your Ride

Wyoming's high roads close in winter and reopen on inconsistent schedules — always check WYDOT's road conditions before departure. Fuel gaps are real: carry reserve capacity on the Battle Pass Byway, between Cooke City and Red Lodge, and anywhere in the Bighorns off the main crossings. Wildlife is active at dawn and dusk across the entire state; bison in Yellowstone and on the plateau roads require patience, not speed. Mid-July through mid-September gives you the best chance at all routes being open simultaneously.