Wapiti Valley... Cody's Yellowstone Connection
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By Carole Cloudwalker
Rough-riding Teddy Roosevelt described the Wapiti Valley as "the most scenic 50 miles in the world."
And while the valley linking Yellowstone National Park and the town of Cody, Wyoming, may have been a rugged ride when Roosevelt toured the area during the early part of this century, today U.S. Highway 14/16/20 paves the way for smooth travel.
For those who want to take in the scenery at a leisurely pace, stops are available at dude ranches and lodges, motels, restaurants, campgrounds, picnic areas, river turnouts for fishing access, informational displays, and the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitors' Center.
There is also a passel of wildlife that's free for the viewing.
Even grizzly bears are occasionally seen in Wapiti Valley, as are bighorn sheep, moose, mule deer, black bear, now and then an antelope, andof courseelk, or "Wapiti" in the Shoshone language. In recent years bison have been spotted in the valley again, traversing groomed trails out of Yellowstone in winter and then lingering into spring to munch valley grasses.
Visitors who want to view the valley Teddy Roosevelt's way can rent horses at several lodges, including Pahaska Teepee, Buffalo Bill's original hunting lodge, located three miles east of Yellowstone.
For specific information about day hikes, backpacking treks, and the locations of trailheads for horseback trips, contact the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce or the Wapiti Ranger District headquarters, both located in Cody.
The many lodges along the North Fork of the Shoshone River, in Wapiti Valley, welcome off-the-road guests for overnight stays and/or affordable meals in rustic settings. Don't be afraid that a long lodge driveway through the lodgepole pines automatically means "Millionaires Only." Lodges which do take overnight visitors or drop-in diners have signs posted at their turnouts.
Most of the lodges are situated on Shoshone National Forest land. The Shoshone was the country's first national forest preserve. Wapiti Ranger Station was the country's first as well.
For those into tent or RV camping, there are nine national forest campgrounds and several commercial campgrounds in Wapiti Valley. Buffalo Bill State Park at the mouth of the valley has numerous camping and RV sites as well.
Buffalo Bill State Park is situated on the shores of the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. The reservoir offers vacationers a fishing detour, and several boat ramps and docking facilities are provided.
Picnic sites in the valley offer those with a tight schedule a chance to enjoy the scenery and the wildlife. It is not unusual to see bald eagles fishing for their own picnic lunch along the river.
Keep your eyes open for the many unusual rock formations in the valley. Some of them sport colorful names such as "Holy City," "Old Woman and Her Cabin," "Goose Rock," and "Laughing Pig Rock". Signs point to many of these named formations and road turnouts nearby let you admire them without creating a traffic hazard.
Carole Cloudwalker, a 23-year Wapiti Valley resident, is a freelance writer and journalist affiliated with the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle in Cheyenne.
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