Breathe Easy On These Local Getaways
Hiking
01. Newton Lakes
Distance: Varies depending on trails chosen • Difficulty: Moderate
Check out the Outlaw Trail System, north of Cody, for wind-free options.
Never been to Newton Lakes ? You’re in for a treat. It’s just a five-minute drive from Cody, and offers fishing from the shore or on the water, plus miles of excellent hiking and mountain biking trails that are also a great place for your four-legged friend to explore. Because the east lake sits down in a small depression, it’s relatively sheltered from the wind. Extend your hike around the lake by heading north on the excellent mountain biking trails that are maintained by Park County Peddlers .
You can hike as far as you want, and as long as you stay off the ridge lines, you’ll stay protected from the worst of the wind. If you hike the 2.6 miles to Twisted Sister, you’ll be rewarded with views of a pretty isolated natural bridge. The entire area has gorgeous scenery, great rock formations, and good birding along the creek. Bring bear spray for insurance, which can also come in pretty handy for rattlesnakes coming out of hibernation as the weather continues to warm.
02. Cedar Mountain
Distance: 6.0 miles (from upper turnout) • Difficulty: Moderate
Also known as Spirit Mountain , Cedar Mountain is covered in trails, most of which pass through the gullies or across the front of the mountain, so they’re more protected from the wind than the road. It’s a great spot for rock hounds, too. Those mammoth chunks of rocks do double-duty blocking the wind and making for some world-class terrain for bouldering; try the Africa or Mid-Mountain Boulder Fields. The trails on Cedar can be wicked steep, so hiking boots with grippy soles are your best bet for an accident-free descent.
If you make the summit of Cedar, look for the bison statue, which marks the spot where Buffalo Bill Cody said he wanted to be buried. (Too bad he ended up on Lookout Mountain in Golden, Colorado.) You probably won’t need bear spray for bears, but it could come in handy for snakes and the occasional hungry mountain lion that might be stalking your dog.
02. Cedar Mountain
Distance: 6.0 miles (from upper turnout) • Difficulty: Moderate
Also known as Spirit Mountain , Cedar Mountain is covered in trails, most of which pass through the gullies or across the front of the mountain, so they’re more protected from the wind than the road. It’s a great spot for rock hounds, too. Those mammoth chunks of rocks do double-duty blocking the wind and making for some world-class terrain for bouldering; try the Africa or Mid-Mountain Boulder Fields. The trails on Cedar can be wicked steep, so hiking boots with grippy soles are your best bet for an accident-free descent.
If you make the summit of Cedar, look for the bison statue, which marks the spot where Buffalo Bill Cody said he wanted to be buried. (Too bad he ended up on Lookout Mountain in Golden, Colorado.) You probably won’t need bear spray for bears, but it could come in handy for snakes and the occasional hungry mountain lion that might be stalking your dog.
03. Sheep Mountain
Distance: 10.5 miles • Difficulty: Moderate
The ancient Shoshone Indians wintered high up on Sheep Mountain for a reason: The north-south running valley is superbly protected from the wind. The trail up the mountain is a great hike on blustery days, with spectacular views of the North Absarokas. The lower reaches might be a tad breezy, but as you continue you’ll get out of the wind. You can do this jaunt in half a day or take longer and enjoy the thought of your friends battling the wind down in town. The best trail up Sheep Mountain starts on the south side of Buffalo Bill Reservoir, about a half mile from Gibb’s Bridge over the North Fork inlet. And don’t forget the bear spray for hikes around here.
04. Olive Glenn Golf Course and BLM Land
Distance: Any • Difficulty: Easy
Although this area can still be breezy, as long as you stay off the ridge lines, you’ll be fine. There’s an access road that runs along the east side of the golf course and continues south for as far as you feel like hiking or biking. Happy off-roaders churn up this road during mud season, creating some hefty canyons on the track. You can hike or bike out this road past the county landfill, about 7 miles south of town. Side routes hook up with the Red Lakes area for additional mileage and a change of scenery. Curious antelope are usually around, and you might even see a golden eagle. The mountain bluebirds are back, too, as a sure sign of spring.
05. Bluebird Trail
Distance: 5.2 Miles • Difficulty: Moderate
This trail pretty much forms a rectangle: up, across the ridge, then down and back to the car, coming in at about four miles. From the car, you can either turn left up to the two-track or go straight. The ascent to the ridge is steep either way, so expect to be sucking some air. After you catch your breath at the top, you’ll get awesome views of Oregon Basin and the Big Horn Mountains as well as south to the Owl Creek Mountains. Don’t be alarmed, but you might hear shooting—there’s a sighting bench just off the trail on the southern end. Stay on the trail and you’ll be fine. Run this trail early in the morning and you’ll probably see mule deer, antelope, and owls, and hear the sweet song of canyon wrens and sage thrashers.
Perched on BLM land just east of town is the Bluebird Trail. You can access this trail at the end of Sunset Rim Road, which is 5.2 miles from Cody on Highway 16 or the Greybull Highway. Look for the turnoff on the right just past Sage Creek Road. Drive to the end of the road and park before the gate.
06. Hayden Arch Bridge
Distance: 3.0 Miles • Difficulty: Easy
At the Hayden Arch Bridge, you can first run out the bridge road itself to the base of the Buffalo Bill Dam, 3 miles round trip. The road is paved with a slight uphill grade as you head to the dam. The canyon walls become steeper and the river more wild as it courses through the boulder-strewn channel. There might be some light vehicle traffic from employees of the power plant and dam, however.
From Cody, go west on US Hwy 14/16/20 to the Hayden Arch Bridge, 6.2 miles. Turn right and there will be parking right before the bridge or after. Each site only holds 2-3 cars maximum. Don’t block the gate along the Hayden Arch road because it is used by the power plant workers.
07. Airport Ridge
Distance: Varies, but anything from one to 10 miles is possible • Difficulty: Moderate to Very Difficult
Description The trails around Airport Ridge and Beck Lake provide bountiful choices of route length and difficulty. The one constant, should you make your way up onto the ridge itself, is the jaw-dropping view of the entire Bighorn Basin and surrounding mountains. All of the loops that get you onto the ridge will involve some climbing, but will also reward you with some very fun downhills as well.
The most obvious route for a quick workout leaves from the footbridge at the west end of Beck Lake. After crossing the footbridge, follow the obvious trail that heads south and along the east side of the prominent ridge, There will be several opportunities to head uphill and to the west to the top of the ridge itself. When you choose to get to the top of the ridge, you can follow the trail – which varies between singletrack and two-track – back north to the footbridge and the end of your run. If you are feeling truly adventurous it is possible to descend Airport Ridge to the west, cross the Red Lakes area, and loop back to your car via Cedar Ridge and city streets. Stop by Sunlight Sports for more information and maps if you want to do this approximately 10-mile loop.
Two notes on this area. Many of the trails were built and are maintained by an outstanding local mountain bike group. Please be courteous to any bikers that you see out by choosing to step off of the trail if you encounter them. If it has rained, or if the trails are wet, please choose another trail area, as the trails are prone to damage when moist. And – the wind on top of the ridge can be significant. If it’s a windy day, there are better places to run.
The best starting place for this area is the city parking lot on the west end of Beck Lake. From downtown, turn north on 13th street and follow it to the light. Turn left on Stampede Avenue, and then right on 14th Street. 14th turns into Reservoir Drive as it enters Beck Lake Park. Park in the lot just past the City of Cody building on your right. Go up to the paved path surrounding the lake, and turn right.
08. Paul Stock Trail
Distance: 4.0 miles • Difficulty: Easy
The Paul Stock Nature Trail is part of the City of Cody’s trail system. This 1.3 mile section gives runners a little more challenge than pounding the asphalt. The main trail is gravel based and winds near the shore of the Shoshone River. There are plenty of narrower side trails that actually take you down to the water and can increase how long you spend here. The Paul Stock Nature Trail is perfect for someone without a lot of time who wants to do some running off the city streets. There’s not a lot of elevation gain/loss and the trails are wide and level. If you have bicycling kids with you they’ll love this trail and the extension to the Shoshone Riverway Trail.
The Paul Stock Nature Trail is located at 801 Spruce Drive. From downtown follow 12th Street north to the 4-way intersection with River View Drive. In front of you will be the entrance to the Shoshone Riverway Trail. Turn left (west) for .5 mile. River View Drive veers left but you want to stay right and continue on a short distance to the end of the road and the trailhead for the Paul Stock Nature Trail.
09. Beck Lake Park
Distance: 2.0 miles • Difficulty: Easy
This park offers paved paths surrounding the reservoirs that are perfect for walking, running, or biking. There are also fishing piers located at the reservoirs, as well as a nearby dog park for fun times with your canine companions.
Run with our social-distance safe Running Crew
Meet up with our local running crew Thursday evenings at the entrance to Wyoming Sport and Fitness at 6 pm! This is an energetic and fun-loving group who accommodates runners of all strides. Message Janie Curtis for more information at: info@runcodywy.com
Bouldering and Sport Climbing
On a dry day, there are plenty of options for bouldering near town. The Cedar Mountain bouldering garden is a local favorite that offers routes with varying levels of difficulty. On particularly chilly days you can seek out an array of sunnier boulders in the Sphynx area on the Rattlesnake side of the valley.
You can also soak up some rays on ropes at the upper and lower Bridge Bands– where the limestone will guarantee you some burns if the sandstone boulders are “too wet to climb.”
What does this mean? Check out this article for more information: https://www.liveabout.com/how-to-assess-wet-rock-before-climbing-756021)
For those looking for even more mileage, we suggest you checkout the multi-pitch lines in the lower Shoshone Canyon.
If you need maps, guides, or further directions, please give us a call. There are also guides available on Mountain Project and Rakkup.
Nordic Skiing and Snowshoeing
The trail system at Pahaska Teepee is a great place to spend the day on nordic skis or snowshoes. This week, we are offering free daily rentals for both nordic skis and snowshoes, as well as curbside pick-up– check out our website to make a rental reservation and find more information. For a trail map, follow this link to the Park County Nordic Ski Association Website.