The Best Areas for Off-Roading in Wyoming

Which American state has the fewest people? Most people’s first guess is Alaska: our largest state, our coldest state, and our most remote. You can’t even reach its capital, Juneau, by land. Try again. Perhaps it’s North Dakota, the northernmost part of the Great Plains. Still not it. Delaware? Nope. Go west.

With just under 577,000 people over nearly 98,000 square miles, it’s Wyoming that is our least-populated and second-least densely populated state. To put it succinctly: you have room to roam here. With all this wide-open space, it’s no shock that Wyoming’s great outdoors draws visitors from within and beyond the Intermountain West—particularly Jeep drivers who relish the rough trails of this rugged land. We’ve picked out a few of the best areas for off-roading in Wyoming for you to consider.

McCullough Peaks

East of the town of Cody in northwestern Wyoming, the Bureau of Land Management oversees this vast expanse of rough and arid land perfect for off-roading adventures. You won’t find many people here, but you’ll find beautiful mustangs who are living free and grazing on their own terms. How much will you love these 150 miles of off-road trails? To borrow a line from the Rolling Stones, wild horses couldn’t drag you away.

Bearlodge Pit

The Black Hills extend beyond the boundaries of adjacent South Dakota and into Wyoming. On the Equality State side, you’ll find a network of ATV and OHV trails radiating from a pit of gravel. If you’re a novice off-roader getting used to elevation changes and tricky terrain, consider twinning your visit to Mount Rushmore with this trip to the Black Hills.

Poison Spider OHV Park

In the Mountain West, resource extraction is the name of the game, and all that mining can leave a mark on the earth. Fortunately, we’ve tried to exercise responsible stewardship, and the conversion of a bentonite mine to an off-roading haven is one such example. Just west of Casper, Poison Spider offers nearly 300 miles of unfettered, freeform off-road exploration. Be forewarned: it can get chilly in Wyoming. It may be time to reinstate the hardtop for your trip, and the Jeep hardtop electric hoist from TopLift Pros makes it easier than ever.

Morrison Trail

We’ve saved the best for the last. East of Yellowstone National Park and just south of the Montana border, no trip to Yellowstone is complete without a jaunt to the most difficult trail in the state. If the rest of the best areas for off-roading in Wyoming don’t challenge you enough, take on the toughest: 22 miles of varied terrain and twisting trails. With nearly 6,000 feet of elevation and 15-percent grades, don’t take on this trail unless you and your Jeep are absolutely ready.