The Bighorn Mountains Scenic Byway Doesn't Have to Be a Day Trip
Most people drive it in a day and keep going. The ones who stay find out why the Bighorns rival anything in the American West. Wyo Stays manages cabins near Sheridan — 30 minutes from the Medicine Wheel Passage. Base camp, not rest stop.
The Medicine Wheel Passage — Wyoming's Most Underdriven Road
US Highway 14A climbs 27 miles from the Bighorn foothills near Dayton and Ranchester up through the Bighorn National Forest to over 9,000 feet at Burgess Junction — and most people who drive it don't stop long enough to realize what they're missing. The road is technically a byway. In practice it's one of the most dramatic elevation gains in the Rocky Mountain West, a switchback ascent through ponderosa pine, spruce-fir timber, and wide-open alpine meadows that bloom through July with wildflowers the size of your hand.
The Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark sits at 9,642 feet on a ridge accessed by a 3-mile round-trip walk from the parking area — an 80-foot diameter stone wheel with 28 spokes, sacred to dozens of Native American tribes, aligned with astronomical precision by people who lived here long before the state of Wyoming existed. The views from the ridge extend 100 miles in every direction. The crowds do not exist. You will likely have the trail mostly to yourself.
Below the byway, Sheridan sits at the mountain's eastern foot — a genuine western town with a Main Street that's been intact since the 1880s. The Mint Bar. King's Saddlery, where working cowboys still buy their ropes. Black Tooth Brewing, where the pour is cold and the conversation includes elk season, rodeo, and whoever just won the WYO Rodeo barrel race. The Bighorn Scenic Byway doesn't end at the summit — it ends here, in town, over a cold one.
If you're visiting the Bighorns in fall, the byway corridor overlaps directly with some of Wyoming's most productive hunting country — see our Wyoming hunting cabin rentals guide for base camp options and season intel.
Medicine Wheel Passage (US-14A) — Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming
What You'll Find Along the Bighorn Mountains Scenic Byway
Driving east to west, the Medicine Wheel Passage takes you through four distinct zones — each worth stopping for. Here's what's waiting.
The Foothills Approach — Dayton & Ranchester
The byway entrance begins in the foothills west of Ranchester and Dayton — two small Wyoming towns where the mountains start announcing themselves. Ranchester has a city park along the Tongue River worth stopping at. Dayton sits closer to the mountain and has the feel of a place that hasn't been discovered yet, because it largely hasn't. These towns are 25–30 minutes from downtown Sheridan and 15 minutes from the national forest boundary.
The Bighorn National Forest Climb — Ponderosa to Alpine
Once you cross into the national forest, the road starts climbing seriously — from sagebrush foothills at 4,500 feet through dense ponderosa pine, into spruce-fir forest, and finally into open alpine meadows above 8,000 feet. Wildflowers run from late June through August depending on elevation. Elk move through the timber early morning and evening. The air gets noticeably thinner and noticeably better. Pullouts are frequent enough — use them.
Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark
At 9,642 feet, the Medicine Wheel is one of the most significant prehistoric sites in North America — an 80-foot stone wheel built by people whose identity is still debated by archaeologists and held by Native American tribes as sacred. Access requires a 3-mile round-trip walk from the parking area. Visiting hours are seasonal. Go early. The ridge views are 100-mile panoramas. Dress for wind regardless of the temperature at the bottom.
Burgess Junction & the Descent to the Big Horn Basin
At the byway's high point near Burgess Junction, the road crests the range and the entire Big Horn Basin opens up to the west. The descent toward Lovell and the western slope is its own experience — drier, more exposed, entirely different geology. If you're doing the full crossing, plan for a full day minimum. If you're based in Sheridan, the eastern ascent and return makes an extraordinary half-day trip.
When to Drive — Bighorn Mountains Scenic Byway Seasonal Guide
Summer (Late June – August)
The byway is fully open. Wildflowers carpet the alpine meadows in July — some years extraordinary, always worth seeing. Temperatures at elevation run 20–30°F cooler than Sheridan. Bring layers regardless of the forecast at the bottom. Wildlife viewing is best early morning. The Medicine Wheel parking area fills by 10am on weekends — arrive by 8am or plan for a wait.
Fall (September – Early October)
Aspen gold hits the Bighorn foothills in mid-September. Elk bugling echoes through the upper drainages. The Medicine Wheel spur road closes for the season typically in October — check conditions with Bighorn National Forest before you go. Significantly fewer visitors. The light in September in these mountains is extraordinary.
Shoulder (May – June)
Snow lingers at elevation well into June some years. The lower sections of 14A open first. Check current road conditions at the Bighorn National Forest website before planning a high-elevation drive in May or early June. Wildflower season starts lower on the mountain as early as late May.
Your Base Camp — Wyo Stays Cabins Near the Bighorn Scenic Byway
The Medicine Wheel Passage is 27 miles of road worth at least a day. Most travelers drive it once and leave. The ones who base camp here drive it at different times of day — catching the morning light from the summit meadows, the late afternoon clouds building over the range, the evening gold on the canyon walls below.
Wyo Stays manages vacation rental cabins near Sheridan Wyoming and the Bighorn Mountain corridor — the eastern gateway to the byway. Properties sit 15–30 minutes from the 14A entrance, with mountain views, real outdoor space, and a licensed local brokerage managing every detail.
Book direct at wyostays.com and skip the Airbnb and VRBO service fees. Same properties. Better rate. Real Wyoming.
Browse Byway Cabin Rentals
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Check AvailabilityBrowse all Sheridan County properties →Wyo Stays is a licensed, insured Wyoming vacation rental brokerage. When you book direct, you get a local team accountable for your stay — not an automated platform.
Driving the Bighorn Scenic Byway — Practical Tips from Locals
Start by 8am
The Medicine Wheel parking area fills fast on summer weekends. An early start also puts you at elevation during the best wildlife window and gets you off the upper road before afternoon thunderstorms build — a daily occurrence July through August.
Dress for 30°F temperature drops
It can be 85°F in Sheridan and 55°F and windy at the Medicine Wheel. A mid-layer and a windshell in the daypack are non-negotiable above 8,000 feet.
Fill the tank before you go
There are no gas stations on US-14A between the foothills and Burgess Junction. Fill up in Sheridan, Ranchester, or Dayton before the climb.
Check the forest road to the Medicine Wheel
The paved highway is reliable through the season. The unpaved spur to the Medicine Wheel parking area can be muddy or snow-covered. Check current conditions at the Bighorn National Forest website (fs.usda.gov/bighorn).
Give yourself a full day
The byway is 27 miles but the elevation gain is 4,500 feet. Combined with stops at overlooks, the Medicine Wheel walk, and wildlife time, a full day out-and-back from Sheridan is the right pace. Rushing it is how people miss the point.
Frequently Asked Questions — Bighorn Mountains Scenic Byway
The Bighorns Are Closer Than You Think. And Better Than You've Heard.
Thirty minutes from Sheridan, the Medicine Wheel Passage starts climbing. At the top, you'll have 100-mile views from a ridge that people have considered sacred for thousands of years. There are no crowds. There is no cell service. There is a cold drink waiting in Sheridan when you come back down.
Book your Bighorn Mountains base camp direct — no platform fees, real local team, licensed Wyoming brokerage. We'll have the cabin ready. The byway will take care of the rest.