Day 1: Arrival in Greybull + Badlands and Prehistoric Tracks
Break up your drive to Yellowstone with a stop in Greybull, a classic Bighorn Basin town that makes an ideal basecamp.
Start your afternoon exploring the striking formations at Devil’s Kitchen, a colorful badlands area with hoodoos, layered rock, and wide open views. It is an easy, low effort stop with big visual payoff. Take as much time as you want and hike the area, don’t forget to capture pictures of the unique landscape. If you’re on social media share your pictures and tag #bighornbasinexplorer.
From there, head to the nearby Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite, where you can walk among fossilized dinosaur tracks dating back over 150 million years. The short interpretive trail makes this both accessible and fascinating.
Take a bit of time to stop into the Greybull Museum to add context to what you are seeing in the landscape along with historical and paleontological artifacts.
Settle into your lodging in Greybull and enjoy a relaxed evening before heading into the mountains the next day.
Day 2: Shell Canyon, Waterfalls, and the Road to Burgess Junction
Today is one of the most scenic drives in Wyoming. From Greybull, head east on Highway 14 into Shell Canyon, where the road winds through towering cliffs and alongside Shell Creek. You can stop in Shell on your way up or your way back and get something to eat, basic supplies, delicious baked goods, or a beer at the Old Shell Store or a drink and some food later in the day at the Shell Bar.
Make your first stop at Shell Falls, a dramatic 120 foot waterfall with an accessible viewing platform and interpretive center.
From here, you have several options:
- Hiking: Short trails near Shell Falls offer canyon views, while longer options climb into the surrounding forest.
- Fishing: Shell Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing in scenic surroundings. Look for pullouts along the canyon for quieter access points.
Continue climbing into the Bighorn Mountains toward Burgess Junction, where cooler air, open meadows, and sweeping vistas take over.
Before wrapping up the day, visit the quirky roadside attraction known as Dead Swede, a local landmark that has become a must stop photo opportunity, with a picnic area and campground bearing the name as well.
Stay overnight in the mountains if you want a quieter, cooler evening, there are a number of campgrounds and a couple of lodges in the area, or return to Greybull depending on your travel plans.
Day 3: Sunrise, Fishing, and Onward to Yellowstone
Start your final morning early to take advantage of the peaceful mountain setting.
If you stayed near Burgess Junction, enjoy a sunrise walk through alpine meadows or cast a line in one of the nearby lakes or streams. If you returned to Greybull, consider a quick revisit to Shell Canyon for early morning fishing when conditions are ideal, or .
This is a great time for a short, quiet hike before getting back on the road. Even a quick stop along the highway offers expansive views that feel far removed from the busier destinations ahead.
From here, continue your journey toward Yellowstone, taking with you a completely different side of Wyoming, one filled with geology, history, and uncrowded mountain landscapes that many travelers miss.
Trip Tips
- Route: This stop fits perfectly along Highway 14 between Greybull and the Bighorn Mountains en route to Yellowstone
- Fishing: Bring a Wyoming fishing license and check seasonal regulations
- Fuel up and Stock up: Services are limited once you leave Greybull and cell service is sparse to non-existent
- Weather: Conditions can change quickly in the mountains, even in summer
- Time saver: All stops are close together, making this an efficient but memorable detour
This weekend or two to three day mid-trip plan turns a simple drive into a destination in itself, blending badlands, dinosaurs, waterfalls, and high country adventure before you ever reach Yellowstone.
Big Horn Basin Explorer 
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