Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At the site of the fort today are a
visitors center and museum
(noon-4pm Wed.-Sun.
May 1-14 and Oct.-Dec. 21, 8am-6pm daily May 15-Sept.) that provide information for
self-guided tours of the grounds and outlying sites. A cabin built by the Civilian Conserva-
tion Corps was crafted to resemble officers' quarters. Several of the battlefields are access-
ible within five miles of the fort.
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Cloud Peak Skyway Scenic Byway
Traveling from Buffalo on U.S. Highway 16 over the southern portion of the Big Horn
Mountains toward Ten Sleep and Worland, the 47-mile paved Cloud Peak Skyway Scenic
Byway offers breathtaking scenery of the Cloud Peak Wilderness and the only view of
Cloud Peak itself, the highest mountain in the Big Horns. This remarkable 47-mile stretch
of road is the southern-most route across the Big Horns. The summit is at 9,666 feet, and
the road also winds through the spectacular Tensleep Canyon. There are multiple turnouts
for travelers to stretch their legs and enjoy the view; the road also passes
Fort McKinney
and runs just 20 miles south of
Medicine Lodge State Archeological Site,
known for its
ancient petroglyphs, pictographs, and idyllic campgrounds. There is also ample access to
hiking trails in the Bighorn National Forest.
The biggest event in Buffalo is the weeklong annual
Johnson County Fair and Rodeo
(307/684-7357,
www.bighornmountains.com/jcf&r.htm
)
, held at the Johnson County Fair-
grounds during the end of July and first week of August; it culminates with a three-day
rodeo. There are also two rodeos weekly in the region: The
Cowgirl Rodeo,
with only wo-
men contestants, is held each Tuesday night at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in June and
July, and the
Kaycee Lion's Club Rodeo
is held every Friday night at Harold Jarrard Park
in nearby Kaycee. Call the
Buffalo Chamber of Commerce
(307/684-5544) or the
Kaycee
Chamber of Commerce
(307/738-2444) for more information.
The
Big Horn Mountain Music Festival
(
www.bighornmountainfestival.com
)
is also
held at the Johnson County Fairgrounds around the second weekend in July. The three-day
event showcases bluegrass, country, folk, and old-time music. In addition to the concerts,
performers also conduct workshops throughout the day for musicians and nonperformers
alike. Mandolin, banjo, guitar, and fiddle contests are held during the weekend. Camping is
available at the grounds. Ticket prices range $25-50, or $85 for all three days. You can save
$5-10 by purchasing tickets in advance on the website.
