Morrison Jeep Trail

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5/5 (9 reviews)
Cody, Wyoming (Park County)
Last Updated: 07/18/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

The Morrison Trail is an iconic trail that should be on your bucket list… if you can stomach very narrow shelf roads. This trail is for advanced drivers only. Once you start the climb up the switchbacks, there is nowhere to turn back if you decide it is too much for you. All of the switchbacks are multiple point turns for anything but very small wheelbase rigs. You will be off camber while climbing tight switchbacks while your suspension is flexed. There is no room for error, no winch points if you get into trouble and you can literally hear the edges of the cliff crumbling away as you drive in some areas. The trail is most famous for the 28 switchbacks(or so depending on what you count). The panoramic views at the top are well worth the intense few hours it may take to climb up the side of the cliff. You begin along the Clarks Fork River and climb to the top of the Beartooth Plateau gaining 2,000ft of elevation in two miles. The Clarks Fork Canyon where you begin is the canyon that Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians traveled through in 1877 to escape the pursuing Army. The scenic byway to the south of the canyon is named after Chief Joseph and has a few interpretive signs along the drive.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

5/5 (9)
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Official Crew
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123150
Temporary Closure
Visited: 07/18/2023

The road is still closed along the eastern half from the switchbacks down. Repairs by the FS and BLM have been approved, but the work will take a year or 2 to put in place and get finished.
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Official Crew
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123150
Partially Open
Visited: 07/14/2022

The trail only partially open, on the north end only between waypoints 9-6. This is due to severe flooding damage in June 2022 that washed away the beginning of the trail and created some rock slides on the switchbacks. Visit the Forest Order here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/shoshone/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5175892&width=full.
Trail Review: Morrison Jeep Trail - Ryan Boudreau
Trail Review: Morrison Jeep Trail - Ryan Boudreau
Impassable
Visited: 07/13/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

The upper northern section (about 13 miles of trails) is open but when it starts to drop down into the valley the forest service has closed the road. This is due to the heavy rains of 2022 that hit the region. The lower switchbacks have extensive damage and are actually gone in some places. There is a completely different trail on the south side of the valley where you can see the damage, real sad hope they get it opened back up.
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Official Crew
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Temporary Closure
Rated 5/5
Visited: 06/11/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Well, if you had any plans to come up the Morrison Jeep Trail this year I would cancel them. With all this moisture we had huge rock slides on 10 switchbacks. This is going to be a major fix and have been told it will not even be worked on this year and closed. The pictures do not do justice to the damage of the road.
Trail Review: Morrison Jeep Trail - James G. (Wy_Overlander)
Trail Review: Morrison Jeep Trail - James G. (Wy_Overlander)
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Official Crew
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117100
Seasonal Closure
Visited: 02/28/2022

Officially closed for the season!

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