Wyoming Highway 296
 Wyoming Highway 296 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Joseph Scenic Byway | ||||
 WYO 296 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by WYDOT | ||||
| Length | 45.971 mi[1] (73.983 km) | |||
| Tourist routes | Scenic byway | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  US 212 east-southeast of Cooke City MT | |||
| East end |  WYO 120 northwest of Cody | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Wyoming | |||
| Counties | Park | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Wyoming Highway 296 (WYO 296), also known as the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, is a 45.97-mile (73.98 km) state highway in northern Park County, Wyoming, United States, that connects U.S. Route 212 (US 212), east-southeast of Cooke City, Montana with Wyoming Highway 120 (WYO 120), north-northwest of Cody
Route description
WYO 296 follows the route taken by Chief Joseph as he led the Nez Perce out of Yellowstone National Park and into Montana in 1877 during their attempt to flee the United States Cavalry and escape into Canada. It crosses Sunlight Creek Bridge, the highest in Wyoming.
WYO 296 begins at a T intersection with US 212 (Beartooth Highway), roughly 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Cooke City.[2] From its western terminus WYO 296 travels southeasterly as it winds through the Shoshone National Forest and through the Absaroka Range and then passes through Dead Indian Pass. After almost 46 miles (74 km), WYO 296 reaches its eastern terminus at T intersection with WYO 120, about 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Cody.[2][3]
Major intersections
The entire route is in Park County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 0.00 | 0.00 | US 212 (Beartooth Highway) – Cooke City, Red Lodge | Western terminus; US 212 (Beartooth Highway) subject to seasonal closures | |
| 32.960 | 53.044 | Dead Indian Pass – elevation 8,071 ft (2,460 m) | |||
| 45.971 | 73.983 | WYO 120 (Belfy Highway) – Belfry, Cody | Eastern terminus | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
See also
References
- ^ a b State Maintenance Engineer’s Office (October 1, 2017). "Maintenance Section Reference Book" (PDF). Wyoming Department of Transportation. pp. 74, 130. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ a b aaroads.com - Wyoming Routes 200-299
- ^ "Wyoming Highway 296" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
External links
- Wyoming State Routes 200-299
- WYO 296 - WYO 120 to US 212
- National Scenic Byways Program. "Chief Joseph Scenic Highway". Retrieved July 8, 2006.
- Chief Joseph Scenic Byway - Wyoming Tourism