This page includes current conditions across Wyoming that may affect backcountry roads and trails. You'll also find updates to the Wyoming Backroads book.
High gas prices aren't keeping folks from Wyoming's backroads; a recent tour around the state revealed scores of side-by-sides, Jeeps, and Toyotas hitting the roads. The 2022/2023 winter brought above-average snowpack, so expect stream and river crossings to be swift and high in late spring and summer. As things dry out during late summer, check this website for the latest information on fires: Wyoming Wildfires
Clarks Fork Canyon Road/Morrison Jeep Trail: FR 119/120 are currently closed due to extensive damage from the 2022 floods. There is no estimated re-opening as of this writing.
Sweetwater Road: FR 423, a short spur west of Cody, is also closed due to flooding damage.
(Pages 380/383 in the First Edition of the book)
The steep switchbacks above Sinks Canyon State Park (outside of Lander) are now paved all the way to the turnoff to Worthen Meadows Campground, making these once rough, hillside-clinging turns an easy drive to the highcountry. The parking lot at the top (Fossil Hill), has also been expanded and improved with a vault toilet.
(Page 250 in the First Edition of the book)
The Sunset Ridge Trail no longer begins and ends from Esterbrook Campground in the Medicine Bow National Forest. This ATV trail now has its own trailhead located just a half mile west of the campground on FR 633.
(Page 48 in the First Edition of the book)
The Cow Creek Butte area of the Thunder Basin Grassland is now permanently closed. This affects FR 958, a secondary north-south running road in the area and a few of the more primitive tracks.
The 176,000-acre Mullen Fire burned across the southern half of the Medicine Bow Range in late summer and fall of 2020. The are south of the Snowy Range (mainly between HWY 130 and HWY 230) was heavily impacted. Some of these roads and recreation facilities may either be temporarily or permanently closed. Be prepared for down and dead timber along all of the routes.
(Page 358 in the First Edition of the book)
Access through private property is now restricted at the southern end of the Copperton route (#19). This affects the southern half mile of the route where it started from HWY 70. Access from the other end (FR 874 to the northwest) is still open across public land. Thanks to Michael Mauldin for discovering this closure and providing this picture of the locked gate.
Perhaps no other area of the state changes as often as the Bighorn National Forest. There are many changes to campgrounds, roads, and trails. While most of these changes are insignifcant, remember to be flexible in your trip planning and obtain the latest maps to make sure the road or trail you are wanting to use is still open for your intended use. One of these changes affects the route leading to Soldier Park (page 97) in the southeastern Bighorn National Forest. The route now utilizes FR 395 for the first mile; this road is located west of the new Hunter Campground/Trailhead. The original route started at the old camp trailhead, which was removed and revegetated.
(Page 222 in the First Edition of the book)
FR 30010 in the Bridger-Teton National Forest (found off of HWY 26/287 between Moran and Dubois) no longer connects to the highway on the eastern end. While this closes the 2.3-mile 4WD segment, the western portion of this road is still open.
