Basics
- Length:
- 68 miles (109 km)
- Time:
- 2 hours minimum, but plan for more time to stop and enjoy the backway's scenery and recreation.
Description
Come cross the same creek through which the early pioneers waded! During the years of 1841-1868, more than 350,000 emigrants crossed Wyoming on their way to Utah, Oregon, and California. You can still see tracks and ruts left from their wagons.
Drive this 68-mile Backway to see majestic mountains, colorfulbright wildflowers, and willowed river valleys with sheep grazing inthe prairies. It's not uncommon while driving this Backway to seemoose, elk, eagles, and the enormous sandhill cranes.
Not far from Big Spring Backway, lies Fossil Butte NationalMonument. The fossils that come from this historic lake bed are amongthe most perfectly preserved in the world. Visitors can view completefossils of mammals, reptiles, insects, fishes, and plants. Thismonument and surrounding fossil basin represent a series of three lakes. This ancient ecosystem was much like today's Florida Everglades.
