kvoiles
Washington
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Located in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, this side trip is simply amazing. Take exit 56 on I-90 to I-25 and get off at the first exit to Buffalo, WY. If you're staying the night, Indian RV park is outstanding.
Before going any further, let me say that under NO circumstances should you attempt Crazy Woman Canyon in an RV or while towing a trailer. In fact, I would discourage even a dually, because of the width. Cars such as a Saturn Aura or other small vehicle may be at risk of bottoming out. We made the drive in a Saturn Vue without problem.
From Buffalo, take US-16 toward the Bighorn Mountains (a scenic drive in its own right, and easily done in an RV). There are camping areas all along the route. About 25 miles from Buffalo, turn left on County 33 (a dirt road) and hang on to your hat. The road almost immediately starts downward to the canyon and narrows significantly. The surface is not maintained, so is rutted, potholed and rock-strewn: we probably did not exceed 10 mph over the first seven miles, and I recommend using low gear all the way.
As you descend further and further, the sides become steeper and large rock fields begin appearing along with large boulders that have fallen from the mountains in the (hopefully) distant past. A pretty creek appears and the road follows it faithfully. There are ample turnouts along the way, but portions of the road are so narrow that if you meet somebody coming the other way, somebody will have to back up. Several one-lane wooden bridges are encountered along the way.
The bottome portion of the canyon is spectacular, with immense boulders weighing thousands of tons, and sheared-off cliff walls presenting a truly awesome sight. How a road was snaked through this portion is a mystery to me. There are also naturally-formed caves along this portion. This section is relatively short and the road widens out (and smoothes out) after crossing the last wooden bridge. The last eight miles or so is easy driving and offers vistas of the Wyoming plains.
So: why would you do this drive? For bragging rights, of course, and the ample opportunity for photos nobody else has. Enjoy.
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RVUSA
Orlando, FL, USA
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I wonder how the name came about, it's pretty unique. Did you take any pics of the ride?
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Luke Porter
Not on the road :(
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Cause it's on the Crazy Woman river.
States I have spent the night in my current rig, bought three years ago.
Have RV'ed through 49 states and been in all 50, just short of my half-century.
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husker 2
Sequim WA
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Great!!! We have stayed at all the RV parks in Buffalo over the last 10 years and love the area. We ( should say I ) have always wanted to take that drive, but for various reason haven't. You have whetted my appetite and next trip, well maybe?????
2004 GMC 2500 6.0L CC SB Reese 16K Slider Prodigy BC Jayco 24 ft 237a Quest 5er
A decrepid old driver a foxy navigator and one cranky Griff puppy named Bandit. Look for a "Big Red" license NEBR 1
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JJnLilly
Ohio
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Second the Crazy Woman Canyon drive. BIL lives very close and we've made the drive several times. Some beautiful spots along this narrow drive. Legend has it that an old Indian woman lived up the canyon and she was more than a bit loco.
2007 Ram 2500 QC CTD
2004 Cougar 290RK
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DesertHawk
Las Cruces, New Mexico
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Crazy Woman
PICS
Pics
DesertHawk - Las Cruces, NM USA
2005 16' Scamp Molded Fiberglass Travel Trailer
Side Dinette, Front Shower & Head
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab
Long Bed with A.R.E. Molded Fiberglass Topper
Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. -Confucius
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kvoiles
Washington
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RVUSA wrote:I wonder how the name came about, it's pretty unique. Did you take any pics of the ride?
I found a website that talked about a couple of legends, but the story that seems to have the most credibility was attributed to a Lieutnant who had been stationed at Ft. Phil Kearney here in Wyoming. Seems a man was selling booze to the Indians, got them hooked, jacked up the price, and when the Indians had nothing more to give, he decided to move on. Angry, they killed him and scalped him in front of his wife. They then clubbed her and left her for dead. Sioux women secretly nursed her back to health, but she was pretty out of it mentally, and disappeared at some point, probably starving to death. Indians began referring to the river as Crazy Woman River.
I took pics, but it looks like somebody posted theirs.
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DesertHawk
Las Cruces, New Mexico
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kvoiles, No, they are just pics off the net, show yours. They will be better. I like pictures. Post some of yours.
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bubbabod
Beautiful Carlsbad, California
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DesertHawk, nice pictures, and thanks for the explanations as to Crazy Woman's origin. The one story they talked about was depicted in Robert Redford's movie about Jedidiah Smith. Or was it Johnson. Anyway, that whole area around Buffalo and Sheridan are so filled with history and beauty, it's my favorite area and city (Buffalo) in all of Wyoming.
Frank & La Donna Bodden
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Once a Texan, always a Texan
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newk
Gillette, WY
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I used to frequent that canyon regularly. It was one of the first places in the Bighorns that I took my wife (then gf), and let the brakes overheat, causing a total loss of the brakes. She's scared to death of roads like that, and that caused me to use the brakes too much. I had a slide-in camper and didn't even think of the brakes overheating. Luckily it was at the bottom and I was able to get stopped at a slight incline off the road. If I'd have been using the low gear range, like I should have done, I'd have had no problem.
The last time I attempted going down the same road we turned around in the final couple hundred yards. She couldn't take it anymore. Or I couldn't take "it" anymore. 
Oh yeah, we made the turn around just after driving past a large 5th wheel. YIKES! I don't know how that happened or what they did with it, but it's NO ROAD FOR A 5ER!
It is a beautiful canyon, best visited with a 4x4. And without a gunshy passenger.
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