the signs for the Medicine Lodge Archeological Site. the trail crosses some sandhills and heads into Hospitals After reaching the site, go north on the jeep road that another gulch, climbing the ridge to a view of heads into the canyon for 3 miles. Park where the road more mushrooms. Stay west as you reach another Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital • climbs out of the canyon. hoodoo which will take you to an ATV track at Thermopolis 864-3121 the base of a red butte. A nearby formation can North Big Horn Hospital • Lovell 548-2771 This hike takes you past some truly remarkable Powell Hospital • Powell 754-2267 rock formations, including a natural arch and be climbed easily to take in the colorful land- scape. Continue along the ATV track over a sad- Washakie Medical Center • Worland 347-3221 some spires. The trail begins by following an old West Park Hospital • Cody 527-7501 road that is sometimes blocked by rock fall and dle, to climb back to Cold Springs Road about a thorny brush, but its still rather easily negotiated. half mile from where you began. Airports As the road leads you through some trees, the Paint Rock Canyon Thermopolis 864-2488 walls climb around you and shortly you’ll arrive Distance: 12.8 miles, one way Greybull 765-7600 at the arch over the dry streambed. Here, the Climb: 2570 feet Cody 587-9740 canyon merges with Sheep Creek Canyon, and Rating: Difficult several spires mark the confluence. Beyond this Usage: light Golf the trail becomes a little more challenging, and Location: From Greybull, take Hwy. 789 south about the creek is above ground, so a few minor cross- 20 miles, turning east (left) onto Hwy. 31, at Midway Golf Club • Basin 568-2255 ings will come your way. The canyon eventually Manderson. After about 22 miles, right before Powell Country Club • Powell 754-7259 dissolves into the trees and a grassy meadow, then Hyatteville, turn north (left) onto Alkali/ Cold Springs Foster Gulch Golf Club • Lovell 548-2445 broadens as the trail ends at an old cabin below Road, which turns to dirt quickly. Follow the road Olive Glenn Golf & Country Club • Spanish Point. about 15 miles, past the Paint Rock Canyon Trailhead, Cody 587-5551 and park here. Green Hills Municipal Golf Course • Medicine Lodge Canyon Worland 347-8972 Distance: 6.4 miles A more extensive hike for overnight, this trip will Climb: 2850 feet (descent) take you to the Bighorn National Forest by way of Ski Areas Rating: difficult a blue-ribbon trout stream. It passes over private Big Horn Mountain Ski Lodge 366-2600 Usage: light land (the Hyatt Ranch) so be considerate, stay on Sleeping Giant Ski Area 587-4044 Location: From Greybull, take Hwy. 789 south about the trails, and close all the gates behind you. The 20 miles, turning east (left) onto Hwy. 31, at trail heads across an area of burnt scrub, heading Guest Ranches Manderson. After about 22 miles, right before southwest towards a draw and across it. Soon you Hyatteville, turn north (left) onto Alkali/ Cold Springs will encounter the abundant vegetation surround- Bear Creek Ranch • Shell 765-9319 Road, which turns to dirt quickly, then takes you about ing Paint Rock Creek. Beyond this is the ranch’s Bighorn Rodeo Ranch • 762-3535 9.6 miles to Alkali Flats and over a small ridge, and land, and a dirt road takes you past some pas- Wayfaring Traveler Ranch • past a jeep road. Just before the road turns south, tures towards the canyon, and back onto public Burlington 762-3536 another jeep road marks the trail’s beginning. The trail land. Follow the creek through a bend in the Rimrock Ranch • Cody 587-3970 ends at Dry Medicine Lodge Road, off Cold Springs canyon, where a natural arch graces the north DNR Ranch at Rand Creek • Cody 587-7176 Section 2 Road, by the Pictograph Site, rim. The trail then climbs up to the Island, a large Hunter Peak Ranch • Cody 587-3711 butte overlooking a basin, then passes through a Beteche Creek Ranch • Cody 587-3844 This area has been designated a Wilderness Study Blackwater Lodge • Cody 587-5201 Area by the BLM, so it is likely you will see gate to descend back to towards the creek. The creek then splits, and a bridge passes over the Bill Cody Ranch • Cody 587-6271 wildlife along the way. The jeep road will take Red Pole Ranch & Motel • Cody 587-5929 you down to Captain Jack Creek, and turns into a main fork. After passing over a swampy area and a meadow, the trail emerges from the canyon and • Cody 587-3963 stock trail that drops rather precipitously to the Schively Ranch • Cody 548-6688 valley floor. The scenery makes the struggle passes below a tree covered mesa. Here it turns into an ATV trail and heads towards the Bighorn Seven D Ranch • Cody 587-9885 through the scrub worthwhile. High colorful Double Diamond X Ranch • Cody 527-6276 canyon walls soon surround you and the creek National Forest. The creek again splits, and another bridge provides a crossing. A final climb Mooncrest Ranch • Cody 587-3620 emerges from its underground course. Stick to the K Bar Z Guest Ranch And Outfitters • trails, as the creek area can be a tangle of vegeta- takes you to where the trail emerges onto FDR 349. Cody 587-4410 tion. The canyon eventually diminishes and the Early Ranch Bed & Breakfast • trail becomes more grassy. As the canyon turns to Crowheart 455-4055 the south, a rounded gap affords passage through INFORMATION PLEASE High Island Guest Ranch • the west side of the walls and into the Dry Hamilton Dome 867-2374 Medicine Lodge Creek Canyon. The canyon floor Tourism Information Paintrock Ranch • Hyattville 626-2161 leads you to a jeep road which then takes you to Wood River Lodg • Meeteetse 868-9211 the Pictograph Site. Basin Chamber of Commerce 568-3371 Ranch at Meeteetse • Meeteetse 868-9266 Cody Country Visitor’s Council 587-2297 The Paint Rock Badlands Snowflake Ranch • Powell 754-5892 East Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce The Hideout at Flitner Ranch • Shell 765-2080 Distance: 2.7 miles 527-9959 Climb: 500 feet Ranger Creek Guest Ranch • Shell 751-7787 Chamber of Commerce - Greybull 765-2100 Bilbrey Guest Ranch • Shell 765-9319 Rating: easy/ moderate Bighorn Canyon Visitor’s Center 548-2251 Usage: light Kedesh Guest Ranch • Shell 765-2791 Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce 754-3494 Shell Creek Guest Ranch • Shell 765-2420 Location: From Greybull, take Hwy. 789 south about Thermopolis Hot Springs Chamber of 20 miles, turning east (left) onto Hwy. 31, at Ranger Creek Guest Ranch • Shell 751-7787 Commerce 864-3192 Deer Haven Lodge • Ten Sleep 366-2449 Manderson. After about 22 miles, right before Chamber of Commerce - Worland 347-3226 Hyatteville, turn north (left) onto Alkali/ Cold Springs Meadowlark Lake Lodge • Ten Sleep 366-2449 Road, which turns to dirt quickly. Follow the road Government Big Horn River Ranch • Thermopolis 864-4224 about 15 miles, past the Paint Rock Canyon Trailhead, Sanford Ranches • Thermopolis 864-3575 and park here. BLM Worland Field Office 347-5100 Paintrock Outfitters • Greybull 765-2556 BLM Cody Field Office 578-5900 Some of the area’s most distinctive and colorful 527-6241 Lodges and Resorts rock formations can be seen on this hike. The soil Shoshone National Forest - Wapiti/Clarks Village Resort • Cody 587-5556 here is extremely delicate, however, so please Fork/Greybull Ranger Districts 527-6241 Holiday Inn Buffalo Bill Village Resort • walk only on exposed rock and established trails. Cody 587-5555 From the trailhead, follow a game trail over a rim Car Rentals Snowshoe Lodge • Shell 899-8995 to the south. Follow the rim, past mushroom Budget Rent A Car • Cody 587-6066 Wagon Wheel Lodge • 765-2561 shaped pedestals, and into a gulch carved with Hertz • Cody 587-2914 • Cody 587-3980 hoodoos. As the cliffs rise around you, head Rent A Wreck • Cody 527-5549 • Cody 527-7701 northwest past more mushrooms and into a cleft Thrifty • Cody 587-8855 Goff Creek Lodge • Cody 587-3753 of solid sandstone. After then turning northeast, Rent A Wreck • Thermopolis 864-5571 High Country Resort • www.ultimatewyoming.com 145