Where is The Morrison Jeep Trail?

Where is The Morrison Jeep Trail?

Usa, north-america

Length

35 km

Elevation

3,107 m

Difficulty

extreme

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! If you're craving a true off-road adventure, the Morrison Jeep Trail in Wyoming's Park County needs to be on your radar. Nestled in the Shoshone National Forest, northwest of Cody and southwest of Billings, this isn't your average Sunday drive.

Clocking in at 22 miles, this one-lane beast of a trail climbs from the Clarks Fork River valley up to the Beartooth Plateau. And when I say climb, I mean CLIMB. We're talking about topping out at 10,193 feet! Expect this journey to eat up about 7 hours of your day.

But the views? Oh, the VIEWS! You'll be traversing some of the most remote and stunning landscapes Wyoming has to offer. Keep your eyes peeled for moose, bears (black AND grizzly!), mountain goats, and bobcats. Just remember, you're out there. Cell service? Forget about it.

Now, let's talk about the challenge. This trail is NO JOKE. We're talking heavy rocks, deep ruts, and a whopping 27 switchbacks that'll test your driving skills (and your nerves!). You'll be hugging the edge with drop-offs of hundreds of feet. A high-clearance 4x4 is an absolute MUST. And those grades? Some hit a staggering 25 degrees!

Keep in mind this road is usually closed from late October to late June/early July due to snow. And trust me, you DO NOT want to tackle this when it's wet or muddy. Those rocky climbs will become your worst nightmare. Speaking of climbs, the altitude up here is real! You'll feel the thinner air, especially on those long, straight grinder sections above 10,000 feet. So, are you ready to put your rig and your skills to the ultimate test? The Morrison Jeep Trail awaits!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
35 km
Max Elevation
3,107 m
Difficulty
extreme

Related Roads in north-america

The Engineering of Kicking Horse Passextreme

The Engineering of Kicking Horse Pass

🇨🇦 Canada

All aboard for a wild ride through the Canadian Rockies! The railway lines here are seriously impressive feats of engineering, mainly thanks to Canadian Pacific (CP) and Canadian National (CN). These tracks slice right through the Continental Divide, battling some crazy steep gradients and seriously unstable ground. We're talking about conquering Kicking Horse Pass (1,627m) and Yellowhead Pass (1,131m), with insane features like the Spiral Tunnels, Stoney Creek Bridge, and the notorious Hell's Gate. The Kicking Horse Pass is the real MVP. Originally, the "Big Hill" section was a total nightmare with a super-steep gradient that caused constant derailments. Enter the Spiral Tunnels in 1909 – pure genius! These tunnels loop inside Cathedral Mountain and Mt. Ogden, doubling the track length and dropping the gradient to a much more manageable 2.2%. Then there's the Fraser Canyon, a dramatic gorge carved by the Fraser River. The railway clings to the canyon walls, squeezing through Hell's Gate where the canyon narrows dramatically. Landslides are a real threat here, so constant monitoring is a must. These rail lines play nice with the region's high-altitude roads, particularly near Lake Louise and Jasper along Highway 93. While the railway hugs the valley floors to maintain that gentle 2.2% gradient, Highway 93 climbs higher to tackle Sunwapta Pass. Both rail and road face the same hazards: avalanches and permafrost issues. Don't miss the bridges! The Stoney Creek Bridge is a 148-meter long steel arch soaring 91 meters above the creek – one of the highest railway bridges in North America. Near Lytton, the CP and CN tracks pull a cool criss-cross move over the river on two massive bridges. Finally, the Continental Divide crossings! Yellowhead Pass, used by the Jasper route, is the lowest pass in the Rockies, making for a gentler climb. And keep an eye out for Mount Robson (3,954m), the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.

Sylvan Pass in Wyoming: A Paved Gateway Through Yellowstone NPmoderate

Sylvan Pass in Wyoming: A Paved Gateway Through Yellowstone NP

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, road trip lovers, listen up! I've got a gem for you: Sylvan Pass in Wyoming. We're talking serious altitude here – 8,553 feet (2,607m) to be exact! You'll find it straddling Teton and Park counties, nestled in the northern part of the state. This beauty, named after the nearby Sylvan Lake, snakes through the Absaroka Mountains. US 16, a fully paved road, is your path to glory, first carved out way back in 1914. Get ready for a 77.8-mile (125km) adventure stretching from Lake Village to Cody. Don’t think you’ll be alone out there; this is a popular route with around 1,200 vehicles a day making the trek. Heads up, though: avalanche danger is a real thing here! Perched high on Yellowstone National Park’s east side, Sylvan Pass is a seasonal treat. Regular vehicles are a no-go from early November to late April. But for a unique winter experience, commercially-guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches get the green light from mid-December to mid-March. The park never sleeps, so feel free to drive in and out anytime once the Pass opens. Just a friendly reminder that Yellowstone has five entrances spread far apart, and closures can happen, so check road conditions before you go!

How To Travel The Challenging Mexican Federal Highway 131moderate

How To Travel The Challenging Mexican Federal Highway 131

🇲🇽 Mexico

Okay, buckle up for Mexican Federal Highway 131 in Zacatecas – it's a wild ride! This south-to-north route stretches for about 42 miles (68.4 km) from Nochistlán to Jalpa, winding its way through Tlachichila. Word of warning: while fully paved, the road has definitely seen better days; watch out for those potholes! And hold on tight, because you're in for some serious elevation changes and hairpin turns galore. We're talking about topping out at over 8,350 feet (2,547m) above sea level! But the views? Totally worth it. Especially the stretch from Tlachichila to Jalpa – that descent gives you incredible panoramas of the Juchipila River and Jalpa city sprawled out below. Trust me, you'll want your camera ready! A traveler named Eblem Torres recommended this road — a person of great taste!

Horse Mountainextreme

Horse Mountain

🇺🇸 Usa

Alright, adventure seekers, let's talk about Horse Mountain in Idaho's Adams County! This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. We're talking a real-deal gravel 4WD track (NF-106) climbing up to 6,899 feet in the Payette National Forest. Seriously, keep an eye on the weather. This road gets dicey fast. Think potential avalanches, heavy snow, landslides, and those sneaky patches of ice that can ruin your whole day. It can get rocky and muddy, too, so be prepared. But the views? Totally worth it! At the summit, you'll find the Horse Mountain Lookout, built way back in 1935. Just remember, if you see a thunderstorm brewing, skip the lookout – lightning and exposed peaks don't mix. Stay safe and enjoy the ride!