Join us for a Scenic Ride through the amazing Chief Joseph Pass and Sunlight Basin Wyoming.
The Video Starts near the 2 Dot Ranch turnoff about mile marker 119 on Hwy 120 SouthBound.
The Chief Joseph Byway needs to be on your to do list.
(I realized after uploading that i inverted some letters in some words, such is the life of a dyslexic.)
From its beginnings as a wagon road to the present highway of today, the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway has enabled geologists to investigate the unique geology of Sunlight Basin and the Clarks fork valley.
Early travelers navigated over Dead Indian hill (Elev. 8071) via a straight wagon road. The first upgrade on the road was in 1909. From 1910 until the late 1920s, geologists and others traveled this dirt road over Dead Indian Hill to reach Sunlight Basin and the Clarks Fork valleys & the mining community of Cooke City. Throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s improvements to the road made travel easier during the winter and spring.
The route was named after the Nez Perce Indian chief who traveled through this valley as part of an 1,800-mile journey with his tribe of over 1,000 people in 1877. They were trying to flee to Canada, ahead of the U.S. Cavalry, but ultimately failed in their attempt. The Indians engaged in 13 separate battles with the U.S. Cavalry while on the journey, and this marked the last large-scale conflict between the U.S. government and Native Americans in the 19th century. Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce were forced to surrender just 30 miles from their goal, the Canadian border.
Unlike Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Highway is maintained by snowplows and kept open year round as weather permits, but the best times to travel the road are between May and September. Navigating the full length of the highway should not take more than 2 to 21⁄2 hours, but you will surely have to stop at least once or twice for photos or to just take in the spectacular scenery.
