When planning our RV road trip adventure, we did not initially identify Buffalo, WY or the Bighorn National Forest as a destination. It came about in the final hour when we were determining how far we wanted to go at one time and on which days. As you know by now, we’re working and remote learning from our rig so we are planful about when we’re on the road and when we are stationary.
After the Black Hills, SD area our next destination was going to be Yellowstone National Park. Heading east we had a few options for where to stop, including consideration of a northern route and southern route. A determining factor in which route to take includes where you are staying at your next destination, if there is something specific you want to see/do on the way, how far you can (or want to) travel in one day, and which routes can be accommodated by this mode of travel (towing/driving an RV). Our search of the southern route included the city of Buffalo. I’ve gotten in the habit of researching the towns along the routes to see if there is anything worth seeing that also have campgrounds that meet our requirements in the area. Buffalo, WY was not only on the route, but boasted next door access to the Bighorn National Forest – something we could explore in the evenings.
Buffalo, WY is a little town on the outskirts of the Bighorn National Forest. Folks moving between Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore often stop here if they are taking a route through the Bighorn Mountains, dotted throughout the forest. After doing this ourselves, we strongly advise you consider the capacity of your tow vehicle when determining if you will route through the Bighorn Mountains. We’ll share more on that later but suffice it to say, there are inclines and declines that need to be handled with some TLC and if your TV (tow vehicle) is underpowered you will quickly regret your decision. 😊
What We Did
As mentioned above, we were in the Buffalo, WY area for 2 days as a stop-over on the way to Yellowstone. The first evening after set up we drove through historic old town Buffalo. It has a lot of charm. Several older buildings are, or have been repurposed for, restaurants, hotels and stores.
We also drove through a portion of the Bighorn National Forest on the Cloud Peak Scenic Byway. There are several places to stop off at scenic outlooks to take photos. We took advantage of many of these, which slowed us down considerably. Before we reached the end we turned back as it was starting to darken considerably. We were able to see what we missed the following evening. If you decide to visit, allocate plenty of time for stopping off at scenic overlooks.
The peak of the byway is at Powder River Pass. Topping out at almost 10,000 feet you get the sense you are approaching the clouds if you hit a cloudy day like the one we had.
On the scenic byway we were on the lookout for wildlife and were not disappointed. Around dusk we began to see deer and elk.
At one point, on the way back to our campground, a group of four grown elk leaped across the road before bounding up the hill on the other side of the road. It was a sight to see.
We also drove by a fort, an archaeological lodge, and rattled down a side road to see a canyon area. More on all there is to do in the Bighorn National Forest coming in our detailed post, but suffice it to say, we could have stayed a week instead of two days. Sometimes you only learn these things by stumbling upon them. Had we flown into an airport and drove straight to a hotel in one area, for example, we never would have experienced the Bighorns at all as it was a stop on our way somewhere else. (Yes, this is a sales pitch for road tripping.)
The next night after a full day of work and school we hung out at the campground. We grilled dinner, played yard games, and took a walk around the campground. It was a nice, relaxing way to spend an evening before the second leg of our journey to Yellowstone the next day.
What We Missed
As is a theme here already, the presence of COVID did somewhat impact our options as well as our choices. Most places strongly encourage masks and social distancing, and some were closed altogether. Not everyone will abide by these safety guidelines (and in less populated areas there are not usually mandates so interact at your own risk). Therefore, we often make choices to avoid crowds, enclosed spaces, etc. We didn’t go into any of the restaurants and shops in the main street area of Buffalo, so if we were going to be in the town again in the future we would likely visit some of those.
Because the Bighorns cover so much territory (1 million miles from Montana to central Wyoming!), we are sure we didn’t get to see everything the Bighorn National Forest offers. For example, further north and closer to the Montana border is Bighorn Canyon National Reactional Area, a beautiful looking geological wonder of walls, cliffs, and lakes surrounded by varied terrain and lush forest. We wanted to see it badly but didn’t feel we could fit it into our schedule. Maybe next time?
Where We Stayed
We stayed at a lovely campground called Deer Park in the town of Buffalo. It is run by a family who were great hosts. Upon arrival we were escorted to our site, and through our couple days stay they did check in with us once. The sites are decently spaced and it is park-like. The grass was struggling a bit there when we were there, but the mature trees were nice and the location off the road was very quiet. The WIFI worked great while we were there. The campground has multiple towers which probably helps a lot during busier times. When we there the park was maybe half to three quarters full, but we didn’t struggle to do basics like email and video conferences.
If we hadn’t been so new to camping and the internet weren’t so important to us for work and school we would have tried to find a spot in one of the many campgrounds in the forest itself. At this point we had had the RV for short time and wanted to stay in a campground with camp hosts and WIFI as well as strong cell signal. However, if you’re on vacation or a seasoned RVer/camper who doesn’t need internet or has their own set up, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Trip Summary
As we alluded to above, we could have spent more time in the Bighorn National Forest, however, between the evening drives and taking a route through over to Yellowstone we were sufficiently satisfied. It’s a nice stop on the way from one area to another.
Happy journeying!
Not Tomorrow 