Bridger Trail through the Bridger Mountains

To follow roughly the route of the Bridger Trail over the Bridger Mountains to where the trail crossed the Bighorn River, take U.S. 20-26 to Moneta, Wyo. At Moneta turn north and follow the paved Fremont County Rte. 176 for 8.2 miles to Lysite. Head northwest from Lysite on the Badwater Road, a dirt road, for 2.7 miles to the Bridger Creek Road. Turn right and follow it north about 12.4 miles to the point where the Dry Bridger Road comes in from the left. Continue north on the Bridger Creek Road for 1.7 miles. Bear left onto the Kirby Creek Road, Hot Springs County Rte. 7. Continue north 19.4 miles down the Kirby Creek Road to its intersection with Wyoming 172, the Black Mountain Road, which is paved. Turn left, west, on the Black Mountain road and follow it 13.4 miles to the crossing of the Bighorn River and, just beyond, U.S. 20/Wyoming 789, the main highway along the river between Thermopolis and Worland. Avoid the route in wet or snowy weather; a sign advises no travel between Oct. 1 and June 1. For a good map, see Wyoming Road and Recreation Atlas, Medford, Ore.: Benchmark Maps, 2008, pp. 46 and 56.