For anyone familiar with the Bighorn Range of North-Central Wyoming (or driving in the Rockies in general):

I'm flying into Billings, then renting a car to do some modest exploring (no off-roading Is a 4-cylinder good enough, or will I have to push it up the mountains? (Just one person, albeit a pretty hefty one.)
So far my mountain driving has been limited to the Appalachians, where a 4cyl does fine. But thought I should get some advice before tackling those 9,000ft passes.

Dave,

First, let me applaud you on your choice of places to explore. The Bighorns are wonderful. I have always called them very "user friendly", because they are relatively easy to navigate, yet remote enough that you really do feel at the end of the world when you're back in there !!!

There are 5 main ways UP into the Bighorns. From the East, there is a road up from Sheridan, and one farther south at Buffalo. From the West there are roads up from near Lovell, Greybull, and Tensleep in the south. (You probably have seen all these on the map.)

None of the 5 is worth missing. They are all different in scope. 3 of the 5 go up through canyon or valley type settings (Greybull/Tensleep/Buffalo) then break out on top for some "ridge running". The Sheridan and Lovell routes climb up "walls" and have incredible views. These 2 are the STEEPEST climbs also.

Mostly you should be ok. Just take your time, turn out often, and leave the car in Lo gear !!! You'll be going up slow, but so will everyone else !!!!! The only place of concern would be decending the Lovell route (Alt 14). You should make sure your rental car brakes are working ok before coming down that way.

Also when you are in that area, don't miss the Big Horn Canyon Nat'l Rec Area. You'll see signs right in Lovell. It's only a little out of the way, and worth the trip. Stop at the visitors center in Lovell.

A lot of this area is remote, especially in the Big Horn Basin (west of the mountains) so it would be a good idea to grab some bottled water and at least some snacks before venturing out. All towns, even small ones, have at least a carry out, so you don't need to pack everything, but an emergency kit would be recommended. All services are available in Sheridan and Buffalo. Somewhat less is available in Greybull and Lovell. There is a carryout in Tensleep, but there is almost everything in Worland farther west.

Let me know if you have specific questions. Have fun.

Ah yes, the Bighorns. I was 21 the first time I drove over them and thought this was neat. Later I returned with my wife and son on a camping trip. And since then we have made an additional trip. There is a very interesting Indian shrine on the road up from Lovell. It is used actively because there were prayer flags attached to the fence, etc. I think you will enjoy it.
I would like to add one word of caution.
The descent on the western escarpment is steep, particularly as you head down to Ten Sleep. We had to stop and let our ears quit hurting.
The last time we drove over it we were driving a rental Toyotal Corolla wagon.
It made it fine, but the tachometer often was turning upwards of 4,000 rpm.
Just keep an eye on the heat guage and don't exceed the engine's red line and you should be ok. The advice aboutt he brakes and tires is quite timely.

Without knowing too much about Wyoming, we drove a figure 8. Lovell to Cody, Greybull, Burgess Junction, back to Lovell, then south to Greybull. (From there, we headed for Sheridan.)

Plan to see the Bighorn Canyon Solar Visitor Center in Lovell. Cody has the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (outstanding!)

We had a mid-size rental car and had no problems. We hope that by this weekend we'll have the travelogue about our Wyoming trip on our web site: <http://www.geocities.com/thetropics/lagoon/8578>. More than you want to know, I'm s

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I was originally hoping to go the first week of July, but couldn't get a freqflyer seat into Billings. So the delayed anticipation is really building. I haven't been to the Bighorns since I was a teenager, so my memories are a bit hazy, but I do remember some really great scenery and fewer people than, say, Yellowstone.

I only have 3 days (Labor Day wknd), so the plan is to stay in Sheridan and explore mostly by car. Sort of a reconnaissance for future trips.

I would appreciate any suggestions for good short hikes. Thanks Again.

Dave

I was going to write another post about this, and since you mentioned hikes, it might be worthwhile. It was mentioned briefly earlier, but the hike to the Indian Medicine Wheel is great. It takes off from Alt 14 (the Lovell road) within a couple of miles from the top of the climb (or just before the descent if you're going down). You have to drive a mile or so up a dirt road, but this time of year it should be fine (I did it in my dads Caddy once). Go to the parking area and then it's maybe a mile hike on the continuation of the road (easy walking for the most part). The views are great. There are several times when access is restricted due to tribal ceremonies, but I think that's around the solstices, so you should be fine....

Also, as a BIG bonus, on the same road just before you get to the Med. Wh. parking area, a road veers up and to the left. TAKE IT. It goes up to an FAA radar dome and when you get up there you'll be on top of the world. It's posted so you can't really look around too much, but you can see the Yellowstone area, the Beartooth Range, the whole BH range that you're standing on, practicaly the entire Big Horn Basin, and 1/2 way to Devils Tower if it's clear. All this from just a drive and no walking !!!!! Worth it !!!

On that same road, 1/2 way down the drop on the way to Lovell, look for an unmarked road that leads off to the right (as you're coming down). This is the old road up this side of the mts. Look for the remains of an old hotel at one point (not much left...a chimney maybe) and then at the end of the road is a small campground, the name of which escapes me. Anyhow, follow any of those paths up to the head of the canyon for a look at some nice waterfalls. A guy showed me a beautiful clear running spring close to this area too, but there's no way I could describe how to get back in there....shame !!

Other than that, there are plenty of informal hikes on almost every road going through the mountains.