Crazy Woman Canyon Wyoming: The Bighorns' Wildest Backroad
July 27, 2026 · 6 min read read · Wyo Stays Journal
Crazy Woman Canyon is a 13-mile, single-lane dirt-and-gravel road (Forest Road 33) through the southern Bighorn Mountains, about 12 miles south of Buffalo, Wyoming. Most vehicles can drive it in dry weather, but high clearance is recommended — and trucks, large RVs and trailers should skip it.
It's a Forest Service backroad, not a paved scenic byway: rock walls close in, Crazy Woman Creek runs alongside, and the single-lane stretches have limited pullouts. Wyo Stays steers plenty of guests toward the well-known Bighorn drives, but this is the one we save for people who specifically ask for something off the beaten path. It's not for everyone, and that's exactly the point.
What Is Crazy Woman Canyon?
Crazy Woman Canyon is a narrow, rugged gorge cut by Crazy Woman Creek through the southern Bighorn Mountains. The road through it, Forest Road 33, runs between the Highway 87/196 corridor south of Buffalo and US-16 on the west end, winding along the canyon floor between steep rock walls. The name comes from Wyoming frontier-era legend, with several competing origin stories tied to Native American and settler history in the area — none definitively confirmed, all part of the region's oral tradition.
Unlike the paved Cloud Peak Skyway or other more traveled Bighorn routes, this drive is intentionally rough. That's the draw for the right kind of traveler, and the reason to skip it for anyone else.
Is Crazy Woman Canyon Wyoming Worth Driving?
Yes, for travelers with the right vehicle and temperament — it's one of the most dramatic, least-crowded drives in the Bighorns, with towering canyon walls and creek-side stretches that feel genuinely remote. It's not worth attempting in a low-clearance sedan or if you're uncomfortable with narrow, unpaved mountain roads with no guardrails.
Route Difficulty and Vehicle Requirements
| Detail | Information* |
|---|---|
| Road | Forest Road 33, about 13 miles end to end |
| Surface | Single-lane graded dirt and gravel; rocky, bumpy and narrow in stretches |
| Recommended vehicle | High clearance recommended; 4WD not required when dry, but helps after rain |
| Not suitable for | Trucks, large RVs, vehicles pulling trailers |
| Hours | Daylight only, sunrise to sunset |
| Seasonal closure | Gated for spring thaw, commonly reported as roughly March to mid-June; the Forest Service sets the dates |
| Drive time from Sheridan | About 1 hour to the east end (roughly 35 minutes to Buffalo on I-90, then about 12 miles south) |
| Time through the canyon | Plan 1 to 1.5 hours for the 13 miles, without stops |
| Cell service | Unreliable to none |
*Based on Visit Buffalo and Bighorn National Forest information; drive times from Sheridan are our estimate. Road conditions change with weather and season. Confirm current status with Bighorn National Forest at 307-674-2600 before you go, especially after rain or early in the season.
Visit Buffalo describes the graded road as passable for most vehicles in good conditions, with high clearance recommended. We'd put it a little more firmly: the rocky, uneven stretches and washboard rattle low cars, and rain changes everything. After rain or a storm, treat high clearance and 4WD as required, or wait a day. Trucks, large RVs and anything pulling a trailer don't belong in the canyon. If you're in a low-clearance rental sedan, skip it or pick a dry day and drive it slowly.
Is Crazy Woman Canyon Road Open? Seasons and Closures
The road is gated seasonally for spring thaw, commonly reported as roughly March through mid-June, with the Forest Service setting the dates each year. It can also close at any time for storms, washouts or construction, and it's a daylight-only road, open from sunrise to sunset.
Recent history matters here. Johnson County closed the canyon to all traffic from June through September 2025 for two bridge replacements, and it reopened September 12, 2025. Crews have been rebuilding bridges and retaining walls along Forest Road 33 in recent years, so confirm there's no active construction before you drive out.
Crazy Woman Canyon Road isn't a state highway, so wyoroad.info won't tell you whether it's open. Call Bighorn National Forest at 307-674-2600 for today's status. For the passes and highways around it, our Bighorn Mountains road closures guide covers what WYDOT closes and when.
How Long Does It Take to Drive Crazy Woman Canyon?
Plan one to one and a half hours for the 13 miles of canyon road without stops, since the single-lane surface demands slow, careful driving throughout. Getting to the east end takes about another hour from Sheridan: roughly 35 minutes down I-90 to Buffalo, then about 12 miles south. This isn't a route to rush; part of the appeal is the slower pace forced by the terrain.
It's generally fine for a solo, prepared driver, but cell service is unreliable to nonexistent through most of the canyon, so let someone know your plans and expected return time before heading out. Carry basic recovery gear, extra water, and a paper map or downloaded offline map, since you shouldn't count on navigation apps working reliably out here. Locals know this canyon has real consequences for underprepared visitors — it's remote enough that a breakdown or getting stuck means a long wait for help, not a quick tow. Treat it with the same seriousness you would any true backcountry drive.
What to bring for a Crazy Woman Canyon drive:
- A full tank of gas before leaving Buffalo or Sheridan
- Extra water and snacks in case the drive takes longer than planned
- A basic tool kit and a spare tire in good condition
- A paper map or downloaded offline route, since phone signal is unreliable
We also tell drivers to check current conditions before heading out, ideally by calling Bighorn National Forest at 307-674-2600 (the supervisor's office in Sheridan). Forest roads like this one can wash out or become impassable after storms, and there's no substitute for a current, local answer rather than an old trip report you found online.
Expect dramatic rock formations and canyon walls rising steeply on either side of the road, Crazy Woman Creek running alongside or crossing the route in places, and a real sense of isolation that's increasingly rare on drives within an hour of a town. Wildlife sightings are common, including deer, and occasionally bighorn sheep on the steeper rock faces.
Late morning through early afternoon is generally the safest window to drive, giving you good light for the drive and avoiding the higher risk of afternoon mountain thunderstorms that can turn the unpaved road slick or cause flash flooding along the creek. Avoid starting this drive late in the day, since a breakdown or slow-going stretch in fading light adds real risk on a road without services or reliable phone coverage.
Crazy Woman Canyon can work for families with older kids who are comfortable with a slower-paced, bumpy backcountry drive, but it's not the right choice for young children who need frequent stops, easy bathroom access, or a smoother ride. If your family trip calls for something more accessible, the paved Bighorn routes make a better first drive, with Crazy Woman Canyon as a step up once everyone's acclimated to mountain travel.
How Does It Compare to Other Bighorn Scenic Drives?
Crazy Woman Canyon is rougher, narrower, and far less traveled than paved routes like the Cloud Peak Skyway, trading easy accessibility for a genuinely wild, backcountry feel. If you want a scenic drive you can do in any vehicle with mountain views the whole way, choose the Cloud Peak Skyway instead. If you want something rougher, quieter, and more adventurous, this is the drive. Our Bighorn Mountains loop drive guide shows how to pair the two, and if you'd rather sleep out than drive back, see the rules in our guide to dispersed camping in Bighorn National Forest.
Wyo Stays is a licensed, insured Wyoming vacation rental brokerage, and basing your Bighorns adventures out of Sheridan gives you easy access to both types of drives. Prefer to be closer to the canyon? See our cabins near Crazy Woman Canyon. Book direct at book.wyostays.com — skip the OTA fees and set up your basecamp for whichever route matches your day. For more ideas on how to fill out a Bighorns-focused trip, see our Sheridan Vacation Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Crazy Woman Canyon worth driving? A: Yes, for travelers with a high-clearance vehicle who want a dramatic, remote backroad drive through the southern Bighorn Mountains, though it's not suited to trucks, large RVs, trailers, or drivers uncomfortable with narrow, unpaved roads.
Q: Is the Crazy Woman Canyon road open? A: It's gated seasonally for spring thaw, commonly reported as roughly March to mid-June, and can close any time for weather or construction. It was shut June through September 2025 for bridge replacements and reopened September 12, 2025. Call Bighorn National Forest at 307-674-2600 for today's status.
Q: What are the road conditions in Crazy Woman Canyon? A: It's a single-lane, graded dirt-and-gravel road about 13 miles long, with rocky, bumpy stretches, limited pullouts, and creek-side driving. Dry weather is usually fine; after heavy rain it turns slick and rutted. It's open daylight hours only.
Q: Do I need 4WD or high clearance for Crazy Woman Canyon? A: High clearance is recommended, and 4WD isn't required in dry weather but helps after rain. A regular car can sometimes manage it when dry, but low-clearance sedans are a gamble. Trucks, large RVs and vehicles pulling trailers should not drive the canyon.
Q: How far is Crazy Woman Canyon from Sheridan? A: About an hour to the east end of the road: roughly 35 minutes on I-90 to Buffalo, then about 12 miles south. Add one to one and a half hours to drive the 13-mile canyon itself.
Q: How long does it take to drive Crazy Woman Canyon? A: Plan one to one and a half hours for the 13 miles without stops. The single-lane, rocky road forces a slow pace, so don't start late in the day.
Q: Is there cell service in Crazy Woman Canyon? A: No, cell service is unreliable to nonexistent through most of the canyon, so tell someone your plans before heading out and carry offline maps.
Plan Your Bighorns Backroad Trip
Crazy Woman Canyon Wyoming rewards preparation, not improvisation — check road conditions, bring the right vehicle, and give the drive the respect a real backcountry route deserves. Book Direct — No Channel Fees and set up a Sheridan basecamp within reach of both this rugged drive and the easier paved routes nearby. Browse current availability at wyostays.com and plan the rest of your Bighorns trip around whichever pace of adventure fits your group.
