Chief Joseph Scenic Highway
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, State Hwy. 296, is located along the northeastern edge of Yellowstone National Park. It winds 46 spectacular miles from Cody, Wyoming to Cooke city, Montana. This famous highway is also popularly known as Sunlight Basin Road and is open almost all year round, allowing backcountry skiers and snowmobilers access to the Beartooth Pass area. Only an eight mile section of the road (between Cooke City, Montana and Pilot Creek, Wyoming) is not plowed in the winter and typically opens up in May.
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway starts 17 miles north of Cody off State Hwy. 120.
Heart Mountain dominates the southeastern view as the road climbs past vibrant
red buttes. The paved road switchbacks along hairpin turns and leads you into a
remote basin area. Other parts of the byway offers breathtaking views of the
Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. Keep an eye out for wildlife. This area
boasts the largest herd of mountain goats in Wyoming. The Chief Joseph Scenic
Byway comes to an end at the intersection with the Beartooth Highway, US Hwy.
212.
The name, Sunlight Basin Road, comes from the 1940s when fur trappers noticed
that the area filled with light, but was so remote that the only thing that
could get into the valley throughout the year was sunlight.
The more popular name, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, is named after the Native
American chief of the Nez Perce tribe. Following the Battle of the Big Hole in
Idaho in 1877, Chief Joseph fled east through Yellowstone. He and 1,000 members
of his tribe ran from the US Calvary, who was trying to force the tribe onto a
reservation so that white ranchers could have their lands. While crossing
Yellowstone, the Nez Perce briefly captured several tourists before going north
up the Clarks Fork River. The Nez Perce were trying to flee to Canada (an 1,800
mile trek), but surrendered after the six-day Battle of the Bear Paw in
northeastern Montana. The tribe was stopped only 30 miles from their
destination, the Canadian border.
In his speech of surrender, Chief Joseph expressed dignity and defeat with his
famous words, 'Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From
where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.' The Nez Perce tribe was
forced onto reservations in Oklahoma and Washington despite promises to allow
them back on their lands. Yellowstone's Nez Perce Creek is named for this
valiant attempt at freedom.
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway offers unparalleled views of Wyoming as well as a
unique history of the US. This famous road is also known for its fascinating
geological features as well as its abundant wildlife around every hairpin turn.
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Needles Highway
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