JACKSON HOLE, CODY, AND THE WIND RIVERS - Montana and Wyoming - page 608

In 1990, all survivors of Heart Mountain were issued a check for $20,000 and a
signed apology from President George H. W. Bush.
Opened in 2011, the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center (1539 Road 19, Powell,
307/754-8000, www.heartmountain.org , 10am-5pm daily June 1-Oct. 14, 10am-5pm Wed.-
Sat. Oct. 15-May 31, $7 adults, $5 seniors/students, free for children under 12) is dedicated
to preserving the memory of this dark period in American history and telling the stories of
those it affected.
Today, in addition to the interpretive center and a short, paved walking trail, there are
three buildings in various stages of decay and different plaques noting the memories of the
victims, including one honoring the more than 600 internees who left the camp to fight in
the U.S. Army during the war.
Also in this region is the Heart Mountain Ranch (307/754-8446, www.nature.org/
wyoming ) , a 15,000-acre plot of land managed by The Nature Conservancy. It has a large
number of rare plants, numerous species of birds, and large mammals such as elk and mule
deer. There is a seven-mile easy-to-moderate hiking trail that takes hikers to the mountain's
summit.
MM Chief Joseph Scenic Highway
Linking Cody with the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park is the seasonally
open 47-mile Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. It is a winding and at times hair-raising
drive that cuts through mountainous country, providing views of spectacular waterfalls and
mountain vistas of the Absarokas, Cathedral Cliffs, and the mouth of Sunlight Basin, and
occasionally a glimpse of wildlife. Interpretive signs along the way tell the story of the Nez
Perce's 1877 flight from the U.S. Army under the leadership of Chief Joseph, for whom the
highway is named. For adventurers, the highway gives unparalleled access to some incred-
ible hiking trails.
From Cody, drive north 17 miles on Highway 120, turning left (west) onto Highway 296,
known as the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. The road climbs over Dead Indian Summit,
above 8,000 feet, and then drops into the magnificent Clark's Fork Valley. The road ends at
Crandall, Wyoming, the only place on the highway to buy provisions or find lodging. Ten
miles west of Crandall on the Beartooth All American Road (known locally as the Bear-
tooth Highway) is Cooke City and the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park.