Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
A Wyoming scenic byway that climbs over Dead Indian Pass near Cody and follows the Clarks Fork Valley to connect with the Beartooth Highway. The views back across the canyon are dramatic.
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is Wyoming Highway 296, about 75 km long. Its southern end connects to Highway 120 northwest of Cody, and its northern end connects to the Beartooth Highway (Highway 212). It is named after the escape route taken by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, who led his people through this area in 1877 to evade pursuit by the U.S. Army. From Cody, the road climbs in continuous sharp bends to the Dead Indian Pass overlook at about 2,499 m, which overlooks the Sunlight Basin and the Absaroka Range. It then crosses Sunlight Creek Bridge, the highest bridge in Wyoming, with a canyon about 90 m deep below. The road follows the Clarks Fork Valley north, and you can see the Clarks Fork Canyon from the roadside. Finally, it meets the Beartooth Highway. The full drive takes about 1.5 hours. The most common route is Cody, the Chief Joseph Byway, the Beartooth Highway, then Red Lodge. You can also drive it in reverse from Yellowstone's Northeast Entrance to form a one-day loop. There are almost no services along the way, so fill up in Cody before departure. Some sections may close in winter, and the road may be icy in the early morning and evening in spring and autumn.