Hiking In and Around Cody Wyoming

Cody, Wyoming lies at the edge of some of the most scenic country in the west. Anyone driving the 52 miles from Cody to the east entrance of Yellowstone along Hwy. 14 can easily understand why President Teddy Roosevelt called it "the most scenic fifty-two miles in the U.S." It traverses the Shoshone, America's first National Forest, created in 1891.

Seasoned as well as inexperienced hikers can find beautiful walks and hiking areas along this highway. Kitty Creek is a trail that begins at the Buffalo BSA Camp 43 miles west of Cody. This trail is considered to be an easy traverse through the Washakie Wilderness and does not require fording the North Fork of the Shoshone River. After two miles hikers get to beautiful meadows along a creek with spectacular views of the Absaroka mountains. Hikers can continue for around another four miles or return to their parking area. Around 37 miles west of Cody is the Backwater Fire Memorial with a sign indicating the Blackwater Creek Ranch. Cross the bridges leading to a corral near the trailhead. Park here and walk up the road for another two miles to Blackwater Creek. It has a camping site. If you want to continue, there is a short wade through the creek followed by a two mile hike to the site of one of the country's worst forest fires. In 1937 this fire destroyed over 1000 acres of forest. Hikers have a chance to view new growth forest and get a sense of the fresh beauty found there after what was once a inferno that killed 15 firefighters. After another two miles the memorial to those brave men can be found amid gorgeous views of mountain peaks and valleys.

Much of the drama found in Yellowstone and the Absarokas is result of old and new catastrophic events. Over millions of years these areas have experienced massive volcanic events, movements of great masses of land, and fires that resulted in the beauty hikers experience today. The area is so lush with geological history continuing to the present, that much of it can be seen through driving, on horseback, or hiking. Whatever your choice of travel, you'll be treated with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.