The Morrison Jeep Trail is a monster of a backcountry road, climbing 4,500 feet in the span of 23 miles. But calling it a road is a bit of a stretch, as many sections are little more than an eight-foot-wide trail of miniature boulders with a drop-off of a few hundred feet on one side. It’s not for the faint of heart (or those lacking in skill).
This ride will test your skills and your nerve as you navigate 27 hair-raising switchbacks through a remote, high-elevation wilderness. It’s one of most challenging jeep trails in the country, but the scenery of the surrounding Beartooth Mountains is absolutely breathtaking.
Planning Your Ride on the Morrison Jeep Trail
Safety
The road usually opens in mid-July, when the snow has melted off and the mud has dried enough to make the route passable. It closes just a few months later in October when the snows return.
The route runs through an incredibly remote section of an already sparsely populated state of Wyoming. There’s no cell service, and there’s a good chance no one will be passing by to help, should your ride break down. Maintain your bike, and know how to fix minor problems so you don’t get stranded on this mountain.
There are very few turnouts, so once you start down the path, it can be pretty difficult to turn back, especially with larger bikes. However, if you get a bad feeling or realize you don’t feel prepared, it’s better to bail sooner than later.
Fuel
The road is only 22 miles long, so fuel isn’t too much of a concern, just be sure to top up before starting. This is rural Wyoming, so the closest gas station to the Morrison Jeep Trail is 40 miles away in Cody. Afterwards, you can refill at the Top of the World store, which is just 3 miles from the end of the jeep trail.
Accommodations and Food
The beginning and end of the Morrison Jeep Trail are in fairly remote areas, but the Top of the World store at the end of the route has four rooms available. Make reservations in advance if you want there to be any chance of staying there. Their store also has a small selection of groceries, and each room has a gas stove to cook on. They are completely off the grid (solar-powered), so electricity can be intermittent.
If you prefer something even more rustic, there are hundreds of campsites available at the end of the route, in Shoshone National Forests and nearby Yellowstone National Park.
Sights
You’ll want to keep your eyes on the road whenever you’re moving, but there are a couple places to stop and enjoy the amazing views. Around 15 miles in, you’ll reach the highest switchback of the route; this is a good time to consider the dangerous road you’ve conquered and enjoy the immense natural beauty of the area. From here, the route makes its way through some grasslands and a more heavily forested section where the views will be obscured.
After the ride, you have the option of making your way through Yellowstone, riding down the famous Beartooth Pass , or just passing through some pristine mountain forests before heading back to Cody, Wyoming. No matter which route you take, the scenery will be stunning.
Beartooth Highway – Photo Credit: National Park Service Shoshone National Forest – Photo Credit: Viplav Valluri / CC BY Yellowstone National Park – Photo Credit: Daniel Mayer / CC BY
