Red Gulch / Alkali is ten miles east of Greybull in north-central Wyoming. It is 32 miles long and follows the Red Gulch / Alkali Road, which is a gravel and dirt road. The byway requires a two-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle to complete. It is open May through October but can become impassable after periods of rain.
Travelers of the Red Gulch / Alkali Back Country Byway will find themselves winding through the foothills of the beautiful Bighorn Mountains. It’s easy to see how the byway was named when you travel this back country route. The reddish color of the Chugwater formation is seen to the east with the Bighorn Mountains as a backdrop. The landscape is composed mostly of sagebrush that provides habitat for the sage grouse. The sage grouse will proudly display their showy plumage at dawn in early spring for those traveling that time of year. If you’re traveling this byway in the fall, be on the lookout for mule deer or elk that make their way down from higher elevations for the coming winter. You may also encounter a gold eagle or peregrine falcon soaring overhead.
As you travel along the byway you may notice stacks of stone piled upon each other. Some of these were constructed by Native Americans to mark trail routes, hunting areas, or other important features of the landscape. Others may have been constructed by sheepherders to mark bed grounds and springs or simply out of boredom.
Although there are no developed campgrounds along the byway, the Bureau of Land Management permits dispersed camping nearly anywhere on public land. It is best, however, to obtain maps from the BLM before setting up camp as there may be private property nearby. The Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site, just east of the southern end of the byway, has camping facilities. You can also see Native American petroglyphs here.