Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway
Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway Tour
| Departure: | Cody, Wyoming, Wyoming |
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| Destination: | Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
Take the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway and step back in time to the untamed Wild West. Experience the unique geography of the Absaroka Mountains, enjoy the natural splendor of the Shoshone National Forest, and find adventure on the byway!
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Start: Cody, Wyoming
Visit the Old West town of Cody. Go white-water rafting, attend a rodeo, or relax by fly-fishing on the Shoshone River.
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Stop 1: Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Directions from previous place: From the Eastgate Shopping Center in the heart of Cody, drive 0.6 miles west on Sheridan Ave. Next, turn right to stay on Sheridan Avenue.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.8 miles / 1.3 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 minute Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours Choose from one of five museums all housed under a single roof. Visit the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, or the Draper Museum of Natural History.
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Stop 2: Colter's Hell
Directions from previous place: Head north on 16th Street to WYO 120. Cross the Shoshone River and turn left on CO Road 2ABW
Distance from Previous Site: 4.7 miles / 7.5 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 9 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Visit this inactive geyser region and learn about the man who it is named after. John Colter was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but he is best known for his exploration of Yellowstone and this once geo-thermally active region, his stories of which were ridiculed as preposterous at the time. This historically significant area is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Stop 3: Buffalo Bill State Park
Directions from previous place: Return to Cody on Rd 2ABW. Proceed west on US-14-16-20. Turn left at Park entrance on Lakeside Dr.
Distance from Previous Site: 8.6 miles / 13.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 12 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours Relax at Buffalo Bill State Park. View wildlife, fish, hike, swim or just enjoy the beauties of Buffalo Bill Reservoir.
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Stop 4: Wapiti Ranger Station
Directions from previous place: Head west on Hwy/US-14-16-20.
Distance from Previous Site: 16.7 miles / 26.7 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 22 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes Visit the first ranger station built by federal funds, the Wapiti Ranger Station. Learn about the natural qualities of Wapiti Valley.
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Stop 5: Pahaska Tepee
Directions from previous place: Head west on Hwy/US-14-16-20
Distance from Previous Site: 22 miles / 35.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 33 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Pahaska Tepee was Buffalo Bill’s magnificent hunting lodge where he entertained heads of state and foreign dignitaries, and outfitted his many hunting trips into the mountains. Take a quick tour, or stay the night in a rustic cabin.
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End: Yellowstone National Park
Directions from previous place: Head west on Hwy/US-14-16-20
Distance from Previous Site: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 2 minutes The byway ends just at the eastern border of Yellowstone National Park. Continue onto Yellowstone National Park, and sample its abundant wildlife. Continue further west and you can see mud pots, hot pools, and geysers.
