Dead Indian Pass — 2,450 metres on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

Topographic plate of Dead Indian Pass — Elevation © NASA SRTM · Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors

Dead Indian Pass is the high point of the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Wyoming State Route 296, a 47 km road that climbs from the Clarks Fork valley up and over the Absaroka front. It is one of the great lonely roads of the American West.

History

The pass takes its name from the 1877 retreat of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce, who descended this escarpment into Sunlight Basin while outmanoeuvring the US cavalry on a 1,800 km flight from Oregon toward Canada. The modern highway, WY-296, was paved only in 1995, nearly a century later; before that, the corridor was a dirt road used mainly by cattle ranchers and outfitters heading into Yellowstone's northeast corner. The road is named the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, and it remains one of the least-trafficked paved mountain routes in the Lower 48.

Riding it

From the east the ascent is gradual, a long climb through sagebrush and aspen with the Absarokas closing in ahead. From the summit the road drops in a series of switchbacks toward Sunlight Basin, a red-rock amphitheatre that opens out below you like a scale model. The gradient tops out near 7% but the scale of the country makes it feel gentler.

The pass is also the practical link between Beartooth and Cody, which is why most riders combine the two into a single day. Traffic is light, fuel stops are rare, and cellular coverage dies just east of the summit.

Along the way

Sunlight Basin overlook — The pullout just west of the summit, with the classic view down into the red-rock basin and out toward the Absaroka front.
Red-rock canyon descent — The switchback section dropping toward the Clarks Fork, with raw geology visible all the way down.
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway — Wyoming 296 from end to end, one of the least-trafficked paved mountain roads in the Lower 48.
Beartooth intersection — US 212 meets 296 at the hamlet of Crandall, the usual hinge of the two-pass loop.
Beartooth and Chief Joseph loop — The two-pass circuit most riders do as a single long day from Cody or Red Lodge.

Combine with

Dead Indian Pass — quick answers

How high is the Dead Indian Pass?

The Dead Indian Pass summit sits at 2,450 metres above sea level.

Where is the Dead Indian Pass?

The Dead Indian Pass is in the Absaroka Range · Wyoming, United States.

How long is the climb to the Dead Indian Pass?

47 km one-way (Chief Joseph Scenic Byway).

How steep is the Dead Indian Pass?

The maximum gradient is 7%. The steepest ramps are concentrated in specific sections rather than spread across the whole climb.

When is the Dead Indian Pass open?

Late May to mid-October. Opening dates shift year to year with snowfall, so check local sources before you travel.

Is the Dead Indian Pass paved?

Yes, the Dead Indian Pass is paved end to end.