The Cody Loop- Explore Yellowstone Without Having to Retrace Your Steps
By: Katelyn Parker
There are several different routes you can take to explore Yellowstone National Park, each with its own brilliant features and unique landscapes. There is no wrong way and each entrance to the park is just as incredible as the park itself. The south entrance has the Grand Tetons, the west entrance is home the Grizzly bear sanctuary, the east is the rodeo capital of the world and the north and northeast have the Beartooth Mountains and Paradise Valley. It is not likely that visitors will have the time to explore every entrance, so how to choose?
East Entrance
One of my favorite ways to experience the park is what I refer to as “The Cody Loop”. The adventure starts in Cody and takes you along the North Fork of the Shoshone River to the east entrance. This loop is incredible because the whole experience crescendos without transitioning until the very end. As soon as you depart city limits, the canyon walls build over you until the landscape opens up to views of Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Wapiti Valley turns into an expanse of country homes and grazing land with beautiful mountain ranges of volcanic rock looming on either side. As you grow nearer the park, the mountain faces hug more closely to the road, engulfing the traveler in a volcanic embrace. The Shoshone River winds through the valley and, although it’s traveling in the opposite direction, you can’t help but feel like it is shepherding you along your journey towards the park. After 55 miles, you reach the east entrance, already in awe of what you have seen and wonder, how can it get better than this?
Photo Provided By: Yellowstone National Park
Explore Yellowstone National Park
Park pass in hand, you make your way in, climbing Sylvan pass, amazed at the change altitude can have on the landscape in such a short amount of time. The trees thin and the snow-covered mountain tops that once seemed so far away are all around you. The snow runoff causes majestic waterfalls to dance off rocky cliff faces along the highway, providing a sense of whimsy. As the road begins to descend, the trees grow denser, and Yellowstone Lake comes into view. Now you know you are in Yellowstone National Park if there was ever any question before. The steam from fumaroles is now evident and the smell of sulfur stings the nose. From here, the adventure is yours to decide. You can go left to explore Geyser Basin, or you can go right to see the falls. Explore the park to see the sites that interest you most but to complete the loop, Lamar Valley will be your last stop, exiting through the northeast entrance into Cooke City.
Photo Provided By: Yellowstone National Park
Photo Provided By: Yellowstone National Park
Exit Through the Northeast Entrance
Having made your way through the brilliance that is Lamar Valley and through the northeast exit, you are now in the quaint Montana town of Cooke City. This tiny mountain town exudes charm and offers visitors a place to stop for a bite, fill up the gas tank and do a little souvenir shopping. After leaving Cooke City you jump back over the state line back into Wyoming and you see the signs for Crazy Creek Falls. It has been a long day in the car, and you may be thinking that you have seen enough waterfalls for the day, but believe me, the stop is worth your time. The walk to the falls outlook is a short one and once you see the turbulent masterpiece that is Crazy Creek Falls you will once again be in awe and wonder. The falls is a roaring cascade of water crashing over rocks and deadfall, eagerly rushing to the bottom. It is humbling to stand so close to such a force of nature.
Photo Credit: Pattys-photos
Sunlight Basin
On the road again, the highway winds with deep hairpin curves through the Absaroka Mountains and Sunlight Basin. The views are breathtaking, and it is impossible not to pull over to take it all in. The crescendo is still building, and you can’t help but wonder when it will transition when you pull off at the Dead Indian Summit overlook and gaze out at one of the most incredible vistas you have ever seen. It’s like you can see everywhere you had been that day from one vantage point. The view is incredible and looking out into the basin with the evening light playing off the clouds and casting dramatic shadows, you can’t help but feel like this is the perfect conclusion to a perfect day.
Photo Credit: Charles (Chuck) Peterson
Hit the Road
The “Cody Loop” is a great way to experience Yellowstone National Park without ever having to retrace your steps. It is one of the only ways to experience the park with an everlasting crescendo, always seeing something new and letting nature completely and entirely take you by surprise. If you ever decide to experience this loop for yourself, be sure to share your adventure with us @LiveWYldMag and use #LiveWYld. Happy exploring!