ATLANTIC CITY TO SHOSHONI – 130 miles

Soon after leaving Atlantic City you’ll pass by the remains of Carissa Mine (circa 1867). The gold found in this mine led to a surging population in the area and the founding of South Pass City (pop. 57). This restored historic town is worth a stop as the buildings are often open for viewing and there’s a museum and gift shop as well.

The route becomes undulating doubletrack after crossing Highway 28. It’s short but sweet riding and soon connects to a wide road crossing the south end of the Wind River Range. This section on Forest Road 300 is one of the highest trafficked sections of the WYBDR so go slow and watch for vehicles on every corner, and Ride Right. You’ll pass by several lakes including Louis Lake, Fiddlers Lake and Frye Lake along this section and several campgrounds run by Shoshone National Forest.

Eventually, the dirt ends and the pavement begins, but don’t fret, this is a wonderful bit of tarmac. Eight sweeping switchbacks take you down from the Wind Rivers to the Middle Popo Agie River Valley below. After the switchbacks end, look for signs for Sinks Canyon State Park. This park has two parking lots, one for where the river disappears underground and another 1 1/2 miles down the road where it “rises” in a calm pool full of hungry trout (you can feed them for a quarter).

In a few miles you’ll reach Lander, the largest city on this BDR and home to NOLS. Lander has all the services you’ll need so fuel up the body and the bike. A few miles of pavement riding gets you to the town of Hudson and the start of a long section of dirt roads through wide open spaces dotted with mining and extraction sites. It’s not the most exciting section of the WYBDR but it goes around the Wind River Indian Reservation. You will pass by unique and colorful sandstone formations on this section and go right through a gas plant on a public road. There are Poison Gas Warning signs in the area and it feels strange but ride on through (if the lights aren’t flashing). This section ends at Shoshoni (pop. 515) where you must fuel up again.