Motorcycling Guide to Wyoming

Imagine cowboys riding across a wide-open prairie, with snowcapped mountains towering in the distance. You have just pictured Wyoming.

If you’ve been longing for big skies, breathtaking mountain views, unmatched natural beauty, and a real trip into American frontier history, Wyoming is where you will find it. With renowned national parks, Wild West wagon routes that you can still ride, and some of the twistiest roads in the country, Wyoming will make you feel like a cowboy. The only difference is that your stallion is made of iron. 

In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know to ride into the sunset in Wyoming. I’ll tell you all about Wyoming’s terrain, suggest some of the best riding routes, and give you crucial tips to get the most out of your Wyoming motorcycle tour.

Geography of Wyoming

Wyoming’s geographical distinctions are not quite as clear-cut as with many other states. However, you can still roughly divide the Cowboy into three distinct regions.

In the western reaches of the state are the Rocky Mountains, whose snowcapped peaks reach well above 10,000 feet. The slopes, along which many wonderful mountain riding roads meander, are covered in dense conifer forests.

They plunge down into deep valleys and gorges, where lies fertile agricultural land but also the wild environs of the Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks (among many others). The Yellowstone Caldera is volcanically active, and so you’ll find awe-inspiring geysers and bubbling hot springs in this region.

Yet, the Rockies aren’t entirely relegated to western Wyoming. Offshoot ranges curve and stretch into the state’s central parts as well. The most significant of these spurs are the northern Bighorn Mountains and the southern Medicine Bow Range, both of which have a gorgeous scenic byway running through them.

Mostly, though, central Wyoming is defined by the expansive Intermontane Basins. Including the Bighorn Basin, the Green River Basin, and the Red Desert (alongside a few smaller ones), these high-altitude plateaus’ distinctive features include low hills, sagebrush plains, and some badlands and desert. As a highlight, the Red Desert hosts the largest living dune system in the U.S.

Traveling eastward, you’ll gradually descend into Wyoming’s portion of the Great Plains. I suppose descending is a relative term here, as the plains do still sit at 5,000-7,000 feet above sea level. Here, you’ll find the prairie you imagine when thinking of cowboy adventures in the Wild West. 

Wind blows across the wide-open plains and rolling hills, making the grass and shrubland ripple like the waves of an ocean. The semi-arid plateau is broken occasionally by wide river valleys with more diverse flora and fauna.

In Wyoming’s northeastern corner, you’ll find the Black Hills. Although technically part of the Great Plains, this region warrants a mention of its own. These pine-covered hills hide rugged limestone formations, like the Devils Tower, and continue into South Dakota.

Finally, if there’s one word that describes a lot of Wyoming, it’s “remote.” The distances can be long and lonesome, making the Cowboy State a prime location for those seeking the solitude of the road (as long as you prepare properly). 

Top Routes and Destinations in Wyoming

You can find the prime riding country in Wyoming in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. They’re the definition of America the Beautiful, boasting some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in the world. Of course, there’s a wide variety of squiggly, more or less technical roads that carry you to the fantastic vistas.

Start your ride in the Rockies by rolling through the small town of Afton. Its famous 75-foot-wide Elkhorn Arch is the (unofficial) gateway to the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone. Afterward, it’s your choice which roads you take, but if you’d like to hit both Grand Teton and Yellowstone, follow our Yellowstone Tour route. Should you need ideas for specific sights to see, definitely visit the Grand Prismatic Spring, which is one of the most otherworldly destinations in the country.

Another great feature of these national parks is the number of roads leading in and out of them, so they’re effortless to connect to longer rides. You could head south to Utah or north to Billings, MT, which makes for a good base camp for sojourns into Yellowstone.

Speaking of Montana, you can take the iconic Beartooth Highway and cruise down from Big Sky Country to Wyoming. With its western terminus near one of the Yellowstone entrances, the road’s switchbacks are a great way to start (or end) a tour through the national park. Read more in our Beartooth Highway destination guide.

Connecting to the Beartooth Highway is the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. It proceeds through Dead Indian Pass, bringing you even more mountain twisties and far-reaching views.

It’s time to move on from the western Rockies, but that doesn’t mean the mountainside fun has to end. Bighorn Scenic Byway (US 14 east from Greybull) keeps the mountain vistas and curves on the menu with such sights as the Shell Canyon on the way. 

Black Hills is another one of Wyoming’s better-known riding regions. Although most of the Black Hills lie in South Dakota, their most famous landmark is in Wyoming. Our Black Hills Shamrock® Tour takes you through the hills on both sides of the state border and naturally includes a trip to the monumental Devils Tower.

Laramie, in southern Wyoming, is an ideal home base for a Wyoming motorcycle adventure. Just a short ride out of the city takes you up the Snowy Range Scenic Byway (SR 130), showcasing the majesty of both the plains and the mountains. Check out our Laramie City Escape route to learn more. Nearby, you’ll also find Chugwater, which has one of the strangest town names in the U.S.

From Laramie, you can also embark on longer cross-state tours. You could traverse Wyoming’s plains east to west or head from the south to the north to experience both prairie and peaks. 

Should the prairie interest you more, you have plenty of options for excellent rides. For inspiration, take a look at the routes of our Gillette Shamrock Tour, which prowl the best of the plains, and the Cheyenne City Escape route out of the state capital.

But perhaps you’d like to see if you’re a real rough rider? Then Wyoming can put you on a true test of long-distance riding ability along the historical Pony Express Trail. This legendary route proceeds through Wyoming on its way from California to Kansas. Are you up for the same challenge as the Pony Express riders of old? 

ADV Motorcycle Routes in Wyoming

With its mountains and plains, ADV riders have few better states to ride in than Wyoming. Almost wherever you go, you’ll find gravel and forest roads that allow you to get off the asphalt.

Those looking for a mapped but not guided dirt tour through Wyoming can ride the Wyoming BDR. Like other BDRs, this long-distance route focuses on unpaved (and often challenging) roads and seeks to highlight all the best parts of the state.

The WYBDR goes through the Red Desert, but it’s a location worth visiting for its own merits. Countless dirt trails traverse the badlands, often making you feel like you’ve zipped through space and landed your bike on Mars.

In the Rockies, the town of Jackson Hole is something of an ADV hub for the region. From here, you can easily access the trails of Grand Teton National Park and the Gros Ventre Wilderness. Just remember to stick to paths where off-road vehicles are actually allowed.

You’ll also find a multitude of gravel and forest roads and small trails in the Big Horn and Medicine Bow national forests. An excellent guided ride is a trip up to the Kirwin Ghost Town from Meeteetse.

Tips for Motorcycling in Wyoming

Wyoming’s riding season is relatively short, lasting from late June to mid-September. Earlier in the spring and later in the fall, many of Wyoming’s best roads (especially mountain passes) may be unrideable with snow.

During any season, though, Wyoming’s weather can be unpredictable, particularly in the mountains. The conditions can change drastically without much warning. Have a healthy respect for rain, as it can turn Wyoming’s clay-rich soil into slick mud on unpaved roads and cause flash floods.

Temperatures, too, swing from one extreme to another. It’s perfectly possible to go from 90-degree weather on the plains to 40 degrees in the mountains in the span of an hour. Layer up well to prepare for cold mornings and evenings and hot afternoons. 

You may also encounter extremely high winds in the plains and basins, as well as sometimes in the mountain passes. The gusts can be strong enough to throw a motorcycle around.

Wyoming is remote, with gas stations often 150 or more miles apart. You must plan your fuel stops carefully. It’s always a smart move to carry extra fuel if you’re venturing into the wilderness, alongside water and food. Cell service will be limited in many areas, and a satellite emergency communicator may come in handy.

Wyoming’s wildlife is magnificent, with deer, pronghorn, elk, moose, bison, and bears. Cattle and sheep are also common on the prairie’s prime ranching land. Unfortunately, these animals tend to venture onto the roads. Ride carefully and employ the best practices for avoiding wildlife collisions.

In Wyoming, riders aged 18 and older are not legally required to wear helmets. You, however, should wear one anyway, because even the sand dunes of the Red Desert are sturdier than your skull.

Motorcycles are entitled to the use of the full lane under Wyoming law, and two bikes may ride side by side if there is sufficient space to do so. Lane splitting is illegal in Wyoming.

Major Wyoming motorcycle events include:

• Beartooth Rally and Iron Horse Rodeo (Montana/Wyoming, summer)
• Sinclair Car and Bike Show (fall)
• The DevilStone Run (fall)
• Wyoming State CMA Rally (late summer)

Off-Bike Activities in Wyoming

When you motor to Wyoming, make sure to pack your hiking shoes, swimsuit, fishing rod, and hunting gear, because the place is a paradise for any activities under the big blue sky. In addition, many cities and towns in the state have cultural events and preserved old buildings that take you back to Wyoming’s frontier past.

• Old Faithful
• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• Red Desert
• Cody (Western culture and rodeos)
• Buffalo Bill Center of the West
• Fort Laramie
• Laramie Railroad Depot 
• Wyoming Territorial Prison  
• Wyoming State Museum
• Independence Rock
• Devils Tower
• Devil’s Gate
• Fossil Butte National Monument
• Flaming Gorge
• Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting