Winter Driving Bighorn Mountains: Safety and Route Guide
October 28, 2026 · 7 min read · Wyo Stays Journal
Winter driving in the Bighorn Mountains is safe for a prepared driver in a properly equipped vehicle, but — as Wyo Stays tells every winter guest — the high passes on US-14 and US-14A close or become impassable during storms, sometimes for days, and are not a reliable winter shortcut. Check WYDOT's 511 road conditions map before you leave, carry chains or studded tires, and plan to skip the direct pass route if snow is falling.
The Bighorns don't ease into winter — they announce it. One October evening the sky over Wyo Stays' home base of Sheridan can be clear and fifty degrees, and by morning the peaks west of town are dusted white and the wind at the summit of US-14 is strong enough to rock a loaded pickup. That contrast, more than any single storm, is what catches visitors off guard.
The good news: locals drive these roads all winter, and so can you, if you respect two things — the pass closures, and your own vehicle's limits. The bad news for shortcut-seekers: Sheridan to Cody by way of US-14 over Granite Pass, or US-14A over Burgess Junction, both climb above 8,000 feet and both close routinely from November through April.
Key takeaways:
- US-14 and US-14A over the Bighorns both close periodically in winter; neither is a guaranteed route.
- I-90 is the reliable all-winter route between Sheridan and points north, south, or east — it's plowed as a priority corridor.
- Always check the current pass status on WYDOT's 511 system before departure, not the night before.
- Carry chains, a full tank, blankets, and traction aids even for short in-town winter drives.
- Smart winter driving Bighorn Mountains trip planning means delaying if snow is actively falling, rather than testing the pass.
Winter Driving Bighorn Mountains: Is It Actually Dangerous?
Winter driving in the Bighorn Mountains carries real risk specifically on the high mountain passes — steep grades, sudden whiteout squalls, and long stretches without cell service — while driving in and around Sheridan itself in winter is no different from any other small Wyoming town with regular plow service. The danger is concentrated, not general, and it's manageable with preparation.
The riskiest stretch is the summit section of US-14 near Burgess Junction, where elevation gain creates its own microclimate. A storm that's light rain in Sheridan at 3,700 feet can be a foot of snow at 9,000 feet within the same hour. WYDOT closes these passes proactively when conditions warrant, which is the single best safety signal available — if the pass is closed, that decision has already been made for you.
Which routes should you use and which should you avoid?
For any winter trip in or out of Sheridan that doesn't specifically require crossing the Bighorns, Interstate 90 is the dependable choice — it's a priority plow route connecting Sheridan to Buffalo, Gillette, and the Montana state line, and it stays open through all but the most severe regional storms. If your destination is Cody, Yellowstone's east entrance, or the Bighorn Basin on the other side of the range, US-14 and US-14A are the direct routes, but both cross terrain above 8,000 feet that WYDOT closes for days at a time in heavy weather.
The safer winter alternative for reaching the Bighorn Basin, when the direct passes are closed or look questionable, is the longer route south through Buffalo and over onto US-16, which tends to see less extreme elevation swings, though it too can close in a serious storm. Locals treat "the long way around" as the default winter plan, not a backup.
When is the best time to attempt a Bighorn Mountains winter drive?
Late morning through early afternoon, after plows have had daylight hours to work and before the afternoon temperature drop refreezes slush into ice, is the safest window for any Bighorn Mountains crossing in winter. Early morning drives before sunrise, when overnight ice hasn't burned off, and after-dark drives, when black ice is invisible and wildlife is more active on the roadway, are the two windows locals avoid without a specific reason to be out.
How much gear do you actually need for a Bighorn Mountains winter drive?
You need less exotic gear than people expect, but you need it every time, not just when a storm looks likely: a full tank of gas before you start climbing, tire chains or studded snow tires if your vehicle isn't already four-wheel drive with good winter tread, an ice scraper, a blanket, and enough phone battery or a car charger to last through a dead-zone stretch. None of this is expensive, and all of it is standard advice from WYDOT's winter driving resources, which is worth a five-minute read before any mountain trip between November and April.
Is it worth driving the Bighorns yourself, or should you skip it in winter?
If your trip has flexibility, skipping the direct mountain crossing in favor of I-90 and a longer valley route is the lower-stress choice every time snow is in the forecast. If crossing the Bighorns is the point of the trip — sightseeing the summit views, or reaching a specific Bighorn Basin destination on a schedule — it's absolutely doable with the checks above, as long as you're willing to turn around or wait out a closure rather than push through one.
We tell every winter guest the same thing: check the WYDOT map before you check the weather app. The pass status is the real answer. Everything else is just forecasting. — Dalton Goodyear, Wyo Stays
Bighorn Mountains Winter Pass & Gear Checklist
| Item | Status / Recommendation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US-14 (Granite Pass) | Closes intermittently Nov-Apr, elevation ~8,950 ft | WYDOT 511 |
| US-14A (Burgess Junction) | Closes intermittently Nov-Apr, elevation ~9,033 ft | WYDOT 511 |
| I-90 Sheridan corridor | Priority plow route, rarely closes | WYDOT 511 |
| Tire chains / studded tires | Recommended for non-4WD vehicles | WYDOT winter guide |
| Full tank before climbing | Always | Local practice |
| Blanket + phone charger | Always, dead-zone insurance | Local practice |
| Best travel window | Late morning-early afternoon | Local practice |
Pass elevations are approximate and sourced from public WYDOT route data; always confirm current closures on the live 511 map before departure, since conditions change hour to hour.
If your winter Sheridan trip doesn't require the mountain crossing at all, staying close to town cuts your risk to nearly zero while still putting you minutes from the Bighorns for a clear-day scenic drive. Book Direct — No Channel Fees and settle into a Wyo Stays rental before you decide which days are drive-worthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it safe to drive over the Bighorn Mountains in winter? A: It can be, with preparation — check WYDOT's 511 road status first, carry winter gear, and avoid the passes when snow is actively falling. The passes close regularly in bad weather, and that closure is the clearest safety signal you'll get.
Q: Do the Bighorn Mountain passes close in winter? A: Yes. Both US-14 (Granite Pass) and US-14A (Burgess Junction) close intermittently from November through April during storms, sometimes for multiple days.
Q: What's the safest route between Sheridan and Cody in winter? A: There's no fully "safe" shortcut across the range in a storm. I-90 plus a longer valley route is more reliable than the direct mountain passes when conditions are questionable.
Q: What gear should you carry for winter driving in the Bighorn Mountains? A: A full tank of gas, tire chains or studded tires if you're not already in a well-equipped 4WD, a blanket, an ice scraper, and a charged phone or car charger.
Q: Do you need a car to visit Sheridan, Wyoming in winter? A: Around town, not necessarily — downtown Sheridan is walkable. A car matters if you plan any Bighorn Mountains driving or trips beyond the city limits.
As a licensed, insured Wyoming vacation rental brokerage, Wyo Stays keeps guests informed on real conditions, not guesswork, before they head into the mountains. Book direct at wyostays.com — skip the OTA fees — and check current availability at book.wyostays.com or browse the full portfolio at wyostays.com before your next Bighorn Mountains trip.
