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Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Absaroka Range, Wyoming
Photo: Smallchief · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives Wyoming Cody, the Bighorns and Northern Wyoming

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

WY 296 · Highway 120 north of Cody → Beartooth Highway

Sweeping45 mi1 hr 5 min5,900 ft climbHigh point ≈ 8,100 ftOne way
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The drive

Wyoming Highway 296 follows the route Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce took in 1877 as they left Yellowstone for Montana during the Nez Perce War. It runs through Shoshone National Forest and the Absaroka Range, linking Cody with the Beartooth Highway at US 212.

The drive starts at WY 120 north of Cody and crosses Dead Indian Pass at 8,071 feet, with views over Sunlight Basin. It crosses Sunlight Creek on what is called the highest bridge in Wyoming and follows the Clarks Fork valley, which runs through a gorge about 1,200 feet deep. The drive is 45.1 miles and takes about 1 hr 5 min.

Along the way

  1. Highway 120 north of Cody
  2. Dead Indian Pass
  3. Beartooth Highway (US-212)
Elevation
5,900 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 8,100 ft
Highway 120 north of CodyBeartooth Highway
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
Highway 120 north of CodyBeartooth Highway
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • WY 296 is open all year from WY 120 to the Pilot Creek parking lot, according to the National Park Service.
  • The Beartooth Highway beyond it, US 212, closes for the season in winter, so then the drive is an out-and-back.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check WYDOT road conditions and closures.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway take?

WY 296 from Highway 120 to the Beartooth Highway is 45.1 miles and takes about 1 hr 5 min.

Is the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway open in winter?

The National Park Service says WY 296 is open all year from WY 120 to the Pilot Creek parking lot, but US 212 beyond it closes for the season.

How high is Dead Indian Pass on WY 296?

Dead Indian Pass on WY 296 is 8,071 feet.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, from Highway 120 north of Cody to Beartooth Highway