The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Expanses of unincorporated public lands, BLM sites often feature beautiful scenery, and they can be a great way to explore the history, landscape, and recreational activities a region has to offer. You can always search "BLM camping near me" in order to find out which sites offer campgrounds or what amenities or recreational activities are available at certain sites.
The Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway is a 32-mile drive that offers views of the landscape and wildlife. There are two entrances, and parts of the road are either dirt or improved gravel. The area is also excellent for photography, hiking, fishing, and camping. The roads border the Alkali Creek Wilderness Study Area and parts of the Medicine Lodge Wilderness Study Area, so there are many opportunities for wildlife viewing. A section of Red Gulch is also home to a set of preserved dinosaur tracks.
Located in the nearby Bighorn National Forest, this trail offers beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding scenery.
Length: 1.3 miles
Intensity: Easy
Located in the Medicine Lodge Wilderness Study Area, this trail is a great choice for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, or off-roading.
Length: 10.7 miles
Intensity: Hard
This trail can be a bit rough or overgrown in places, but it rewards hikers with views of a waterfall at the end.
Length: 3.3 miles
Intensity: Hard
This popular trail is located right near the Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway, and it’s a great choice for backpacking or horseback riding as well as hiking.
Length: 15.3 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Located in Hyattville, which is one of the closest towns to the Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway, this trail follows a river.
Length: 10.9 miles
Intensity: Moderate
One of the best places for fishing in the area is in Medicine Lodge Canyon, which is located in the Medicine Lodge Wilderness Study Area. Anglers will most often catch brown trout, but some rainbow trout and mountain whitefish can be spotted. Fishing enthusiasts can cast from the bank or wade into the stream, and fly fishing is also very popular.
Climbing enthusiasts will enjoy nearby Shell Canyon, which offers cliff faces that reach several hundred feet in height. Traditional climbing routes are the most common in the area. During the winter, the canyon is also a very popular spot for ice climbing up the cliffs.
The Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway and the surrounding area are the perfect places to spot local wildlife. The area is home to bighorn sheep, elk, wolves, bison, bears, pronghorn antelope, eagles, wild horses, mountain lions, and a range of migratory birds.
The Cabin Creek Picnic Ground, which isn’t far from the Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway, is a great choice for a picnic. The area has four picnic sites and vault toilets. The Lake Point Picnic Site also offers restrooms and picnic tables, and visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the lake.
The area around Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway is very popular with horseback riders. Riders can often choose any of the area’s many hiking or off-roading trails to horseback ride along.
The area around the Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway offers several good options for RV camping. Bald Mountain Campground is quiet and peaceful, and it offers beautiful views of the landscape. There are vault toilets and potable water available. Shell Campground offers 13 RV sites, 10 of which have full hookups. Each site has a picnic table and there is a store, panini café, and coin laundry.
There are several options for Bureau of Land Management free camping near the Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway. Shell Reservoir Camping Area is an excellent choice for dispersed camping, and there are both vault and pit toilets available. Little Goose Campground is also a good option for dispersed camping. There are three sites, and the area is excellent for fishing, OHV riding, or simply enjoying the scenery.
The Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway is a great way to introduce yourself to the northern reaches of Wyoming. The byway itself can sometimes be a bit rough, so a high clearance vehicle is recommended. There are few amenities in the area, so remember to pack everything you need, including plenty of water. Summers in the area are relatively dry and mild. Winters, however, can be very cold. Most visitors prefer to explore the area from June to October. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
There are few amenities in the Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway area, so it’s very important to plan ahead and take care of this wild area and any other BLM sites or campgrounds that you enter. Always take all of your trash with you when you leave the area. Only start a fire in a designated area, and only when the fire danger is low. Stay on the trails or roads. Never take any plants or rocks home, and observe wild animals from a distance.
From Shell, head west on US Highway 14 for about four miles. You’ll see milepost 0, showing where the byway starts, and there will be an information kiosk at the byway’s entrance. You can also reach the byway from Hyattville by driving north on US Highway 31. You’ll reach the other entrance to the byway at milepost 32.
Ready to visit Red Gulch/Alkali Backcountry Byway? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
