How To Travel The Morrison Jeep Trail In WY
Located in Park County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming, the challenging Morrison Jeep Trail is a very rough drive. It's a challenging ride because of the combination of altitude and terrain. It is not for the timid or people in poor condition.
How long is Morrison Jeep Trail?
Tucked away within the Shoshone National Forest, Morrison Jeep Trail (Forest Road 120) is 35km (22 miles) long running from Clarks Fork River valley to the Beartooth Plateau. It’s an extremely dangerous, narrow, single-lane trail with no turn-offs.
Is Morrison Jeep Trail difficult?
The road is extremely challenging with heavy rocks and deep ruts and high clearance vehicles with 4WD are the only vehicles that should be attempting this trail. The road, is known for its 27 tight switchbacks that make up the ascent from the Clarks Fork River to the top of Beartooth Plateau, with a drop-off of a few hundred feet on one side. The turns are really bad, narrow and steep. The switchbacks are even steeper than they look. The grade in some areas is as steep as 25 degrees.
How long does it take to ride on Morrison Jeep Trail?
Located northwest of Cody and southwest of Billings, the road is very difficult, so plan about 7 hours to complete the drive. There are lots of single-track trails cutting off from the main route, but make sure you have a map and know where you're going before wandering off too far. The trail wanders twenty-some miles across the Beartooth Plateau, one of the most remote places of the state. Moose, bear (both black and grizzly), mountain goats and bobcats inhabit the area. There’s no cell service, and there’s a good chance no one will be passing by to help, should your ride break down.
When Morisson Jeep Trail opens?
The road tops out at 3.107m (10,193ft) above the sea level so it is usually impassable from late October through late June or early July (depending on snow). It's not recommended to drive this road when it's wet, muddy, or slippery. There are a couple very technical and rocky climbs and a handful of grinders that are long and straight but this is where you cross the 10,000 ft mark so the oxygen is limited.
Pic: Brandon M