Wyoming Hwy 14 Devils Tower to Lovell

[Jfkmk]

Originally Posted by Grumpy7159

For your information:
Mountain Road Information
WYDOT will open US 14A on or before Memorial Day weekend in May 2020. For information about this news release, contact WYDOT District 4 public information specialist Laura Dalles at 307-752-3022. For the latest road conditions, visit www.wyoroad.info, call 5-1-1, or download the Wyoming 511 app.
Note that the information is for 2020. The phone number may be good though.
Check out the picture.
https://sheridanmedia.com/news/19306...ning-of-us-14a

Now that’s some snow!

[Virginian]

Originally Posted by Jfkmk

Now that’s some snow!

Yeah, that's serious snow! I've been operating a DOT snow plow here in Virginia for the last 28 years, and never seen anything like that. We don't even have that kind of equipment.
And that picture was taken last year on the same date that I anticipate being there this year.
I'll just have to check the closure updates as I get closer.
Thanks for the info and links Grumpy7159!

[WY Husker Fan]

If you stay on 14 through Shell to Greybull there are nice little campgrounds both in Shell and Greybull. Shell is a small mom and pop and Greybull is a really nice KOA. There are also several Forest Service Campgrounds up on the mountain but they won’t be open in mid May. Not familiar with the campground in Lovell but probably not much as far as amenities.

[Virginian]

Originally Posted by WY Husker Fan

If you stay on 14 through Shell to Greybull there are nice little campgrounds both in Shell and Greybull. Shell is a small mom and pop and Greybull is a really nice KOA. There are also several Forest Service Campgrounds up on the mountain but they won’t be open in mid May. Not familiar with the campground in Lovell but probably not much as far as amenities.

Thanks for the tips. The Lovell destination is just a town operated Camper Park, with water and dump station, and bathrooms. No electricity.
We are going cross country and trying to mix campgrounds, free camping, and dispersed camping areas. The Lovell Camper Park happened to be a free overnight en route to our destination.

But I'm flexible on overnight stops, so thanks for suggestions.

[jlynn721]

Originally Posted by Virginian

To avoid some Interstate and see more scenery, I'm considering taking Hwy 14 from Devils Tower to Lovell, WY, then back up to I-90.
Is 14 okay for towing a travel trailer? Small trailer, Wolf Pup 16, 4,000 lbs., total length with truck 40 ft.
East of I-90 looks pretty flat on youtube videos, West of I-90 looks extremely steep.

I'm sure to have more questions. We're heading out in a few weeks on the great cross country adventure!

At Burgess Junction (intersection of 14 and 14A), westbound on 14A, you are required to stop and check your trailer brakes. I worked nearby for a summer a few years ago, and WY Highway patrol was actually stopping vehicles that didn’t stop (they did issue citations). It’s a good idea, because 14A is a steep, winding grade. It’s fine for a RV. Very beautiful. Stop and see the Big Horn Medicine Wheel.

[Virginian]

Thanks!
I've actually seen a couple of YouTube videos of people driving down 14A, and pointing out the brake check pull offs. Looked like a good idea on that road.
Right now I'm going to have to see what the weather is like when I pass there. It may not be an option, based on when it re-opened last year.

[CedarCreekWoody]

I've driven 14A I'm memorial day weekend but Medicine Wheel was still snowed in and closed.

[fanrgs]

We stayed at a beautiful U.S. Forest Service campground on U.S. 14 just east of Burgess Junction. The Sibley Lake campground has long, tree-shaded, back-in sites with 30A electric hookups, water available at several spigots, picnic tables, and very clean pit toilets, but no dump. Small lake with good trout fishing, hiking paths, and NO neighbors anywhere, so very quiet and peaceful. Made a wonderful overnight stop for us!

BTW, we took 14A to Lovell towing our fifth wheel and had no problem with the downgrade. But we have a diesel exhaust brake, which makes a huge difference on very steep, winding roads like that.

[Virginian]

Good to know. Sounds like my kind of campground. Thanks!

[Domer1972]

According the Mountain Directory, the descent on 14A is posted at 10% for 10 miles down what the locals call "Oh My God Hill" down from Bald Mountain into Lovell. MD notes that the descent on 14 through Shell Canyon is 5-7% for 18 miles. Check out at mountaindirectory.com. The e-version is worth it.

[timfromma]

I loved crossing the Big Horns. I did that back in 2017 on a trip out I90 headed for Yellowstone. Prettiest part of the drive IMO. I'm headed out to Yellowstone again this summer but I'll be coming in from the west this time. After I'm done in Yellowstone, I'm headed down to Douglas to visit family. Even though it will add a couple of hours to my drive, I am taking a detour over to the Big Horns again because I enjoyed it so much the last time.

[fanrgs]

If you have the time and really want to see some gorgeous scenery, consider staying off I-90 a little longer than just leaving U.S. 14A at Lovell. If WY 296-the Chief Joseph Highway--is open (check WY511 online), continue on to Cody on 14A and take WY 296 to Cooke City. There you can take U.S. 212 to Mammoth and U.S. 89 to Livingston. U.S. 212 from Mammoth to Cooke City is kept open in winter, where 212 from Cooke City to Red Lodge is closed.

You will traverse the northern edge of Yellowstone NP, but the less crowded part, and will by-pass the incredibly steep grade and switchbacks of the Beartooth Highway. Although the Chief Joseph Highway (be sure to stop and read the signs that explain that name) has some fairly steep grades, it is nothing like 14A or the Beartooth Highway. It is a very well-paved, well-maintained, two-lane road and the scenery is awesome! And it is so sparsely populated that you can imagine what it was like in 1877, when Yellowstone NP was was only 5 years-old and the Nez Perce rode through.

PS--if you have any interest in dinosaurs, be sure to stop at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. The paleontologist who created their dinosaur collection was Bob Bakker, who developed the theory of warm-blooded dinosaurs. He was also the technical consultant for the "Jurassic Park" movies.

[Virginian]

Thanks for the tips. I’ll investigate that route.

[8022]

I drove that road in September in a 32 ft Class C pulling a car on a 23 ft. flat trailer. I left the RV in tow mode, adjusted the electric brakes a bit and would tap the brakes
intermittently to lock the tranny. It was fine and as everyone says a beautiful drive.
We were also up in the bighorns in February in the Car and again what a great drive with lots of snow and wildlife. Don't hesitate'

[Virginian]

Thanks. I'll have to see if the snow is cleared by the time I get there. It should be less challenging with my setup than with yours.

[Virginian]

As planned, I crossed the Bighorns on US 14 yesterday. Glad I did! 14A was still closed so I took 14 all the way over. Still plenty of snow along the roadside and fields. In places the top of the fence disappeared into the snow. A beautiful drive! My wife was so glad that I decided to go that way.
Probably just as well that I couldn’t go 14A because the vertical deep cliffs along Shell Creek after the falls were thrilling enough for us!
Fantastic drive and I would recommend it to anyone heading that way!
Thanks for all the information and suggestions from the forum members.

[OldGal3]

Thanks for the update - glad you folks enjoyed that drive. Great pictures.

[lbrjet]

Looks like you had the falls to yourself. That stretch of 14 is windy but very pretty.