Cody Country - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 339

nation about the need to balance national security with respect for the civil
rights of all its citizens.
2. Wapiti Ranger Station
Rte. 14, which overlaps here with Rtes. 16 and 20, winds eastward along the north fork of
the Shoshone River. Dotted with lodges and resorts, this stretch of highway passes through
anamazinglandscapeforgedbyvolcanicfires.Appearingoneafteranotherarehundredsof
dramatic rock formations—multicolored spires, towering pinnacles, and layered columns,
some of which are identified by roadside signs.
The national forest's Wapiti Ranger Station, erected in 1903, lies just off Rte. 14 and
is a good place to relax and enjoy the sights. Open in the summer months, a visitor center
at the station offers an informative video on grizzlies, the undisputed king of these woods.
On the way out of the forest, the drive slips between Signal and Flag peaks, two mountains
cresting at the preserve's eastern boundary.
3. Buffalo Bill State Park
As the road winds down from the mountains, the vegetation also changes, with dense
forests yielding to open expanses of sagebrush and scrubby juniper. This arid landscape is
not without its oases, however, for cottonwoods and willows flourish along the banks of
thegraduallywideningShoshoneRiver.Then,afewmilesfartheralong,theroadskirtsthe
shores of Buffalo Bill Reservoir, the centerpiece of Buffalo Bill State Park and an irresist-
ible mecca for campers, windsurfers, and boaters.
The town of Cody, east of the reservoir, also recalls the popular scout and showman,
who lent his magnetic name in the hope of attracting crowds. The plan was a success:
Today nearly 750,000 visitors come each year. One of the town's most popular attractions,
the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, boasts five world-class museums and galleries. Come
Independence Day, the Wild West also springs to life during the Cody Stampede, an enter-
taining show complete with parades and rodeos that marks the high point of Cody's sum-
mer festivities.
As it leaves town, the drive switches onto Rte. 14A, which heads toward Bighorn Na-
tional Forest. Locals say the A stands for adventure, and once under way, you'll soon find
out why. The route angles northeast through the Big Horn Basin, a broad, windswept val-
ley. Far-reaching views of grassy rangelands are the norm in summer, but winter is another