Guide to Scenic Drives in Sweetwater County
The roads and byways of Sweetwater County are the best ways to experience the natural and historic beauty of Southwest Wyoming. Get behind the wheel and experience the road and all the adventure it has to offer.
From short 20-mile drives to hundred-plus mile excursions, we have several suggested routes that will ensure you see the best sights in Sweetwater County!
Flaming Gorge – Green River Basin Byway
Distance: 160-mile loop (suitable for most vehicles)
This three-hour, 160-mile loop is like a greatest hits record for Sweetwater County. You’ll see Green River, Expedition Island, Rock Springs, Firehole Canyon and the spectacular landscapes that surround Lake Flaming Gorge. Keep a camera ready for possible wildlife sightings as well; depending on the season, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and wild horses may be visible. Our suggestion: split this journey into two days and camp for a night on the many BLM or USFS campgrounds along this route.
Directions: Enter the byway off I-80 at either Green River or Rock Springs. The byway forms a loop off of I-80 around Lake Flaming Gorge.
Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop
Distance: 24-mile, gravel-road loop (high-clearance and/or four-wheel-drive vehicles recommended)
The Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop Tour allows you full control of your wild horse viewing experience. This byway can start in Rock Springs or Green River, Wyoming. Though only 24 miles, this gravel road takes nearly 1.5 hours to travel. You wouldn’t want to rush anyway, considering the beautiful views and abundant wildlife that lay ahead of you. In addition to wild horses, you might see desert elk, rabbits, coyotes, hawks, eagles and more. Wildlife is best visible in the early morning or late afternoon, though the vistas and overlooks are always in full view.
Directions from Rock Springs: From I-80 in Rock Springs, take the Elk Street Exit (#104) ad go north. Travel 14 miles to County Road 4-14 (Fourteen-Mile Road), then go left onto 4-14 and travel 2.5 miles. Turn left on Country Road 4-53 and follow for 21.5 miles to Green River.
Directions From Green River: Exit I-80 to Flaming Gorge Way, and turn onto Wild Horse Canyon Road.
Seedskadee-Killpecker-White Mountain Circuit
Distance: 130-mile loop (suitable for most vehicles)
The Seedskadee-Killpecker-White Mountain Circuit takes you through a trifecta of some of Sweetwater’s best sights. From Green River, you’ll see the wildlife-rich Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Have your camera ready: you'll be able to spot everything from insects to big game and plenty of birds too. You’ll loop back to the northeast to see the Killpecker Sand Dunes, a desert landscape that has an off-road vehicle “play area” and the core of an ancient volcano. Complete the circuit by heading to Rock Springs, where you can take a side trip to the White Mountain Petroglyphs, the 200–1,000-year-old carvings etched into sandstone by Native Americans.
Directions: From Green River, take I-80 W, then take exit WY-372 W to the Seedskadee Wildlife Refuge. From the Refuge, head north on WY-372 W, right onto WY-28 E, turn right onto US-191 S, turn left onto Old Hwy 191, turn left onto Chilton Rd, and you’ll see the Killpecker Sand Dunes. From the Sand Dunes, go southwest on Chilton Rd for about 8 miles, then turn right for the White Mountain Petroglyphs.
Bridger Valley Historic Byway
Distance: 20-mile loop (suitable for most vehicles)
The Bridger Valley Historic Byway was the place where all the historical trails met: the crossroads for the California/Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the Pony Express Route, the Transcontinental Railroad and the Lincoln Highway. Thousands of travelers have passed through these parts. These days, it’s a 20-mile loop that incorporates Fort Bridger, Urie, Mountain View and Lyman.
Directions: The route runs from I-80 Exit 34 and reconvenes the interstate at Exit 48.
Muddy Creek Historic Byway
Distance: 25-mile back road drive (high-clearance and/or four-wheel-drive vehicles recommended)
Definitely off the beaten path, the Muddy Creek Historic Byway is a 25-mile trail that takes you from the western ghost town of Piedmont to Muddy Creek, a staple camping spot for Mormon pioneers, military travelers, and Pony Express deliveries.
Directions: The byway starts on WY-219 in the town of Fort Bridger. Head south on WY-219 to the intersection with WY-217. Go west and south on WY-217 to the intersection with WY-212. Go west on WY-212 to the intersection with WY-202 then WY-173. Go south on WY-173 to the ghost town of Piedmont. Then return north on WY-173 to I-80 at exit 24, known as the LeRoy exit. The route extends from I-80, exit 24, 1.5 miles to a fork in the road, south to Piedmont, and back at this split, then east to junction 224 at Fort Bridger.