Cloud Peak Skyway is 35 miles south of Sheridan in north-central Wyoming. It begins in Buffalo and travels west to Ten Sleep. The byway is 67 miles long and follows US 16, a two-lane paved road suitable for all vehicles. Temporary closure by snow is possible in winter, otherwise the byway is open all year. Wyoming has officially designated 47 miles as a state scenic byway. The US Forest Service designated 43 miles as a National Forest Scenic Byway.

Cloud Peak Skyway begins at an elevation of 4,645 feet in Buffalo and heads west across the forested Bighorn Mountains. It crosses Powder River Pass at an elevation of 9,666 feet and then drops down through Ten Sleep Canyon to end in Ten Sleep at 4,206 feet. Several viewpoints provide expansive vistas into Cloud Peak Wilderness and the surrounding mountain scenery. Wildlife observers need to be looking for mule deer or elk among the rivers and grassy meadows. Wildflowers bloom from spring through autumn, providing a splash of color against the green of ponderosa pine.

If you're interested in hiking, backpacking, or horseback riding, you're in the right place. To the north of the byway lies the pristine land of the vast Cloud Peak Wilderness. The area protects 195,000 acres of the Bighorn Mountains. Trails leading into this beautiful wilderness can be accessed from the byway. Hikers and backpackers will find trails that will take them several days to hike.

Those less interested in hiking the back country but want to enjoy an evening around a campfire can do so at the many campgrounds found along the byway. Meadowlark Recreation Area offers over 100 campsites in five nearby campgrounds. The lake here is popular during summer with anglers and boaters. Middle Fork, Circle Park, South Fork, and Tie Hacks Campgrounds provide a total of 43 sites. Trailheads found here can take you into the wilderness area.

Information: Bighorn National Forest, 1969 S Sheridan Ave, Sheridan WY 82801 / 307-672-0751