US Forest: Shoshone National Forest, Bridger-Teton National Forest
Length: 163.0 miles / 262.3 km
Time to Allow: Allow 4 hours to drive the byway, but plan time to see the sights along the way.
The Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway provides travellers with a rich aesthetic, cultural and historical experience, as well as views of diverse landscapes and ecosystems. It crosses the Continental Divide, and offers a route that, although well-traveled, is "off the beaten path" between Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The route provides a loop opportunity for visitors to these two famous National Parks, and is part of the Federal Highway system that includes other nearby scenic byways, such as the Beartooth Highway.
The byway passes through some of the continent's most wild and spectacular country. It crosses, and gives public access to, the recreation lands of two National Forests, Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, and numerous private resorts and services. Although passing through a progression of dramatic scenery, from high alpine confier forests to willow bottoms and sage covered hills, is an attraction worth the journey by itself.
Overview:
As you follow the Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway through northwestern Wyoming, you'll pass through a region filled with diverse landscapes and exciting wildlife. Along the way, you'll encounter national forests and national parks, each brimming with chances for you to immerse yourself in some of nature's most dramatic settings.
For optimal wildlife watching, visit Bridger-Teton National Forest. Over 3.4 million acres serve as a home to throngs of animals from big game such as pronghorn antelope and black bears to threatened and endangered bird species such as the bald eagle, the American peregrine falcon, and the whooping crane. Even a short visit guarantees you a glimpse at moose, fox, badgers, and enormous sandhill cranes. The forest is also a raptor haven, housing 30 different species, including osprey, golden eagle, and snowy owl. On a clear fall day, you can see more than 50 red-tailed hawks hovering in the crisp autumn air.
Shoshone National Forest covers 2.4 million acres with 236 peaks from three mountain ranges and 156 glaciers in northwestern Wyoming. Here you'll see a landscape that ranges from sagebrush flats to 12,000-foot mountains. Whether you choose to see the forest by foot or by vehicle, you'll come across expanses of exposed rock, thick forests, wide meadows, and snow-clad mountains. Along the way, you'll likely see bighorn sheep, mountain goats, grizzly and black bears, moose, elk, and deer.
Though named for the Teton Range that rules both land and sky with rugged glacial peaks, Grand Teton National Park's geology also includes the wide valley of Jackson Hole, several lakes, and the Snake River. Spend some time in Jackson Hole, surrounded by the Grand Tetons in a valley filled with culture and recreation. Every winter, thick snow coats the valley, creating the perfect place for skiing or other winter recreation for several months of the year. During the summer, many attend the Summer Music Festival for a taste of culture. If you're visiting in autumn, wander around the Fall Arts Festival, where more than 40 local galleries and museums take part. Close to both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole serves as an ideal access point to recreation. From laidback trout fly fishing and wildlife viewing to intense rock climbing, mountain biking, and river rafting, you're sure to enjoy every minute here.
Visit Yellowstone National Park, where white surges of steaming water shoot from geysers and deep pools of turquoise sit still in hot springs. Be sure to see Old Faithful, famous for its sky-high eruptions. Waterfalls range in size, whether diving off steep cliffs or gently gliding down small slopes. Hiking trails wind nearby many of the falls, bringing you close enough to feel the pounding water resonate within you. Wildlife watching is superb in this park, where bison, bear, moose, mountain lions, elk, deer, and wolves all reside. Pick your pace as you explore the park, a place perfect for hiking, backpacking, fishing, and kayaking.
Dive into spectacular country as you drive the Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway. Journeying through a land thick with high alpine conifer forests, you'll have the opportunity to both see and experience for yourself the excitement of a place that truly defines the great outdoors.
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