Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, also known as Wyoming 296, is a 46-mile scenic highway in northern Wyoming. It stretches from just north of Cody Wyoming to the junction with the Beartooth Highway near Cooke City, Montana. Named for the Nez Perce Chief Joseph, the highway roughly follows a portion of the route taken by Chief Joseph and his followers fleeing the US Calvary in 1877. Along the route there are views of the Absaroka Mountains, the Beartooth Mountains and Plateau, plus the canyon of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River.

Photographing the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

A view across a mountain valley with golden grass and Sugarloaf Mountain in the Hazy purple distance. There is a ponderosa pine in the foreground.

Looking southeast across the valleys from the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

The Bright Red Beds of the Triassic Chugwater Formation are overlain by Gypsum along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

Afternoon view of Heart Mountain taken from Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, near Cody, Wyoming. Triassic beds of the Chugwater Formation are visible in the foreground.

Afternoon view of Heart Mountain taken from Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, near Cody, Wyoming. A lone pine tree stands in the foreground.

A lone pine growing in a meadow along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway with Heart Mountain in the distance.

A panoramic view taken from Dead Indian Summit Overlook showing the winding road through Sunlight Valley, near Cody, Wyoming.

View of Antelope Butte taken from Dead Indian Summit Overlook.

A view of Sugarloaf Mountain and Antelope Butte taken from a p[uill-off along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway near Cody, Wyoming.

Afternoon view up the Canyon of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River taken from near Dead Indian Hill along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

Close-up afternoon view up the Canyon of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River taken from near Dead Indian Hill along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

Closeup of the Canyon of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River taken from an overlook along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

A view looking down at the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River from Sunlight Bridge.

Looking up the Canyon of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River, taken from Sunlight Bridge.

Black-and-white view of Antelope Butte taken from Dead Indian Summit Overlook along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

A lush view of wetlands south of the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway with mountains in the distance.

Black-and-white photo of tree tops taken from the Sunlight Bridge on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

A black-and-white photo of the top of a leafless, dead tree at the Chief Joseph Summit Overlook.

Close-up of common orange lichen growing on a rock along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway near Cody, Wyoming.

A closeup of hairy purple Cider Milkvetch seed pods growing at Dead Indian Summit Overlook, along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

The highway runs atop some ridges, but mostly follows a broad valley or high mountain park, as we call them, called the Sunlight Basin. And, it is a lovely counterpoint to the alpine switchbacks of the Beartooth Highway. But, unlike the Beartooth Highway, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is open all year-around. However, due to unpredictable weather conditions at high altitude, it is alway good to check on road conditions if the weather seems a bit iffy. Here is a link to the Wyoming Department of Transportation with the current road conditions: https://wyoroad.info/pls/Browse/WRR.RoutesResults?SelectedRoute=WY296.

There are many pull-offs along the highway where you can stop and soak in the scenery. And these pull-offs are large, making it easy to park and spend time photographing the magnificent views. Now, if your mission is primarily photography, plan to drive the road twice–it is roughly 46 miles one way. Head west in the morning and east in the afternoon. And, if you happen to travel the area in fire season, you will battle haze. All I can say is, embrace atmospheric perspective! If you can go in May, you may be luckier and see crystal-clear views. Plus, do not fail to stop at one of the many wetlands along the route. The colors and textures against the mountain background are stunning.

Combining the Beartooth Highway with the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

Combine the Chief Joseph Byway with the Beartooth Highway for a spectacular day of sight-seeing and photography. Read this post about the Beartooth Highway to learn more about it. And, if you are heading to Yellowstone, the Beartooth and Chief Joseph highways are the way to go. You will encounter views that do not disappoint.

More information …

Enjoy Your Parks provides an informative Web resource for sights along the highway: https://enjoyyourparks.com/wyoming/top-things-to-do-in-wyoming/chief-joseph-scenic-byway/.

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