Highway 14 East To Dayton•Bighorn National Forest

00:00     Title
00:15     Highway 14 East
03:30     Highway 14 Southwest
06:00     Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
07:30     Highway 14A West
13:29     Fin
​
Burgess Junction is where all three U.S. Highway 14 travel routes meet in the north end of the Bighorn National Forest. Highway 14A West goes to Cody while Highway 14 South goes to Greybull. The third option is Highway 14 East to Dayton, Ranchester and Sheridan. Highway 14 East is the busiest tourism corridor, because this road connects with Interstate Highway 90 near Sheridan. Sheridan is a gateway town that offers modern amenities, super stores, grocery stores and outdoor outfitters.

Another reason why Hwy 14 East is so busy is because there are no reliable communication options anywhere in the Bighorn. The 30 mile drive to Dayton is where a strong cel phone signal can be found. Reliable high speed internet access can be found in the Ranchester or Sheridan Public Libraries, which is good to know if data usage is necessary during a Bighorn adventure.  

The downhill drive going east to Dayton on Highway 14 begins with views of open range cattle ranches and rolling mountain meadows, then one of the most famous landmarks in the west comes into view. The two towering gray rock outcrops that can be seen a few miles east of Burgess Junction are called Twin Peaks. The Twin Peaks Landmark is very photogenic, so be sure to bring a camera along for the ride,

When doing this drive early in the day, there can be plenty of ground fog in the high elevation mountain meadows, which is a dramatic effect to see. Burgess Junction is over 8,000 feet up, so the ice cold morning air condenses moisture. Views of ground fog rolling over Sibley Lake in the morning are definitely worth pulling off the highway to see.

The evergreens are thick and the mountain slopes are steep as Highway 14 starts to go downhill. There is plenty of wildlife along this stretch of road because water is nearby, so it pays to proceed with caution. Prune Creek parallels the road and just one look at this peaceful stream is enough to convert just about anybody into an avid fly fisherman. 

When the easy going drive through thick forest comes to an end, Highway 14 East heads straight for the towering steep slopes overlooking the valley. This section of road has steep grades and tight hairpin turns that are guaranteed to smoke the brakes. This hair raising downhill run is not for the faint hearted! Gearing down and stopping to let the brakes cool will be necessary, especially for RV drivers and trailer haulers. Fortunately there are many scenic overlooks, so frequent stops can be made. Every scenic overlook offers something interesting to see and the views of the valley from the high vantage point are nothing less than spectacular. One of the scenic overlooks has a great view of the Fallen City rock formation. The Fallen City literally looks like megalithic buildings cascading down the side of the steep mountain slope.  

Finally the crazy downhill run on Highway 14 flattens out in ranch territory at the bottom of the hill and this is where the outskirts of Dayton come into view. Dayton offers limited amenities, cabin lodges, a convenience store, an RV park and a few small shops. Hunting guides and outfitters can be found here too. 

Mid to late summer is the wildfire season in the Bighorn Mountains, so it is best to heed the Smokey The Bear’s warnings. While I was working in the Bighorn National Forest, there was a big wildfire in a canyon on the way to Dayton. As can be seen in the photos, the smoke was thick and this wildfire was threatening to head up the mountain. Wildfires are a real danger during the summer season and they can cause road closures or evacuations, so it pays to keep up to date on the fire reports when making travel plans. A simple AM/FM Radio with a Weather Channel or Emergency Channel is the only reliable source of wildfire information in the Bighorn, so be sure to pack one of these antiques for the ride.

​Late summer is also when the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally takes place. Highway 14 through the Bighorn is a traditional Sturgis touring route, so by all means, keep an eye out for the two wheel machines while touring this part of the Cowboy State.