Montana's Chief Joseph Highway

The 47-mile long Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, shown on maps as Wyoming 296, links the town of Cody, WY. with the Beartooth Highway and the Northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The route crosses the Shoshone National Forest through the Absaroka Mountains to the Clarks Fork Valley and is considered one of the most scenic roads in America. 

The highway is named after the Native American chief of the Nez Perce who, following the Battle of the Big Hole in Idaho in 1877, brilliantly led his tribe of 900 warriors, old men, women and children through Yellowstone, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana as they fled from the U.S. Cavalry who were trying to force the tribe onto a reservation. They were desperately trying to cross over into Canada where they would be safe.

Sunlight Creek in the valley below.

On an 1,800 mile journey through mountains and across plains, constantly on the move while fleeing from numerous detachments of Army Cavalry with warriors fighting a rear-guard action almost the entire way, Chief Joseph and his tribe outsmarted and outmaneuvered the army troops. The surviving 431 Indians were finally stopped just 30 miles from the border. After a 6-day battle, Chief Joseph, unwilling to leave his sick and injured behind, surrendered and made his famous speech - "Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

At the top of Dead Indian Pass.

Chief Joseph had to leave behind a seriously wounded
warrior at the top of this pass as U.S. Army troops were
closing in. The Indian was found by the army and killed.
The pass is known as Dead Indian Pass and this marker
is at the summit.

Yellowstone - Mammoth Area

Lil Dude Troll was here June 1st and it was still
very cold and there was still deep snow cover, but the
road was cleared. 

If you head north of the Canyon Area you will enter the high country. This is normally one of the last roads to be opened each season as there is usually deep snow cover into May and even June. It is also one of the most beautiful areas in the park. Plan to stop, stretch your legs and explore a bit at Dunraven Pass.

Further north you will come to Mammoth Hot Springs Junction. Like all the other area's within the park, there are many very interesting natural sites to see and explore here, but it is also the site of an old army post where soldiers lived when they guarded the park. It now is a small village with a visitor center, stores, and park offices. It is also the site of Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge. The lodge is one of the oldest buildings in the park, but it is well

maintained and a comfortable and convenient place to spend a few nights if you make reservations far enough ahead to get a room. Most of the guest rooms do not have a private bathroom (and the ones that do cost $40 more per night), but the large common bathrooms are kept very clean and sharing is not really a problem with doors and curtains enabling privacy. Moose and other animals do not seem to be afraid of humans and are seen wondering around the grounds at all hours. Just down the road is a cemetery containing many old graves and there are numerous ghost stories about the place (you can read several of them here and here and here), but Lil Dude Troll didn't encounter anything not explainable while staying there for 4 nights.

Heading into the town of Gardiner.

For a nice break one day, continue north past Mammoth Hot Springs to the park's north entrance and into the small town of Gardiner, Montana. Here you will find full services from gas stations and auto repair shops to grocery stores, restaurants, a book store and souvenir shops. On the way, you will pass the 45th parallel marking the half-way point between the equator and the north pole.

The Troll Family really enjoyed their visit to Yellowstone National Park and gives it their highest recommendation - it would be 2 thumbs up but trolls don't have thumbs so it's 2 little arms up!

Just after entering Montana, you will cross
the 45th Parallel

The famous North Entrance Arch coming
into Yellowstone National Park

The engraving at the top of the arch reads, "For the
benefit and enjoyment of all"

The town of Gardiner, Montana just outside the
North Entrance to Yellowstone

The Cowboy's Lodge & Grill is recommended for some
fine eats.  

Heading back into the park past the North Entrance