Monday, May 25, 2020 - Memorial Day
Deadwood, South Dakota to Cody, Wyoming
Highlights: Devils Tower National Monument, Medicine Wheel Passage Scenic Byway (14A) through the Bighorn Mountains, Bighorn Canyon
Devils Tower National Monument, known by some American Indians as Bear Lodge, rises alone from the prairie in the northeast corner of Wyoming. As with most federally-managed sites right now, the visitor center was closed, but the hiking trails were open. The 1.3-mile Tower Trail around the base of the tower affords views from every angle, and we were able to watch some climbers making their way up the shady side.
Devils Tower National Monument
The first U.S. national monument
Shortly before the voluntary climbing closure in June, out of respect for American Indian beliefs
Our close encounter with the igneous intrusion
Leaving Devils Tower, we made a rare jump to the interstate (I-90) to make some quick miles with the 80 mph speed limit. Woohoo! Consequently, we reached Sheridan in no time, where we left the interstate again in favor of scenic Highways 14 and 14A (aka Medicine Wheel Passage Scenic Byway) through the Bighorn National Forest and the Bighorn Mountains, crossing the continental divide at 9,430-foot Observation Point. WyDOT had just cleared 14A for the season three days earlier. The plowing was a BIG job!
Moose!
Along the Medicine Wheel Passage Scenic Byway
Continental divide through the Bighorn Mountains
The pass was recently plowed
Jana with the staggering snow
A side trip into the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area required us to venture clandestinely about a mile into Montana, an activity forbidden at this time without a 14-day quarantine. We therefore did it anyway. The mandatory quarantine applied both to out-of-staters and to Montanans leaving the state and re-entering. Since the only way into this part of Montana is via Wyoming, any person in this part of the recreation area, whether from Montana or not, was violating the order. Ha! We hiked about a mile on State Line Trail to viewpoints of the Bighorn Canyon, then drove over to view the confluence of the Bighorn Canyon and Devil Canyon from Devil's Canyon Overlook before fleeing back to Wyoming.
Bighorn Canyon, Montana
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Bighorn Canyon and Devil Canyon confluence
Bighorn River
Lodging: A Western Rose Motel, a charming independent motor hotel in downtown Cody. The proprietors gave us information about visiting Yellowstone the next couple of days, namely, to take everything we need food and drink-wise, because there are no services open in the park, and to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime trip to Yellowstone with almost no one else around. Outstanding!
Cody, Wyoming
Built by Buffalo Bill Cody and named after his daughter
Bill and Jana
Yellowstone Sam?
Driving distance: 430 miles
Tom
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