If your love for the outdoors is coupled with a desire for a ride on the open range, head to Wyoming for a trip on the Big Horn/Red Wall Back Country Byway. You’ll traverse antelope-dotted prairies northwest of Casper, journey up into the Big Horn Mountains, and return to the prairie when you take the approximately 100-mile, mostly gravel byway.
Begin your byway drive at the junction of Bucknum Road/County Road 125 and US 20/26 about 15 miles west of Casper, Wyoming. Though the byway leads through remote open range, you’ll find it still has sweeping views, recreation spots, historical relevance, and a peaceful scattering of wild and domestic fauna.
About midway along the horseshoe-shaped byway on Red Wall/Roughlock Hill, cruise by the spot where early travelers maneuvered down a steep, rocky slope by locking their wagon wheels and sliding. Also among the astounding red buttes rising from the grassy prairie floor, you’ll find the former stomping grounds of several western outlaws, including Butch Cassidy and his Hole-in-the-Wall gang.
Stop off at Grave Springs, several miles northwest of Red Wall along the byway, to stay overnight at the peaceful, limited-facility Grave Springs or Buffalo Creek campgrounds. Visit rock cairns sprinkled throughout the area to pay tribute to sheepmen and women of the region.
When you travel the byway, remember to pack a camera, gasoline, and extra food and water. You’ll also want to bring along a bit of caution—domestic horses, cows, and sheep as well as wild antelope, elk, and mule deer roam freely along the byway route.
As you cruise the byway, you'll encounter historic livestock trails, sweeping vistas, wildlife, historical remnants, and solitude. Keep your eyes open–you won’t want to miss any of the 100 remarkable miles of the Big Horn/Red Wall Back Country Byway.
