William Cody settled in Wyoming along the eastern border of Yellowstone National Park and helped to found Cody, Wyoming in 1896. The Shoshone River runs through Cody. About 10,000 people live here at an elevation of 5,016 feet. We last visited in 2018 and enjoyed our stay, but wanted to return to explore the area more. Once again, our time was limited and poor weather limited our activities, so we will just have to return.
William Cody
William Cody had quite the remarkable life. He spent considerable time in Cody helping to develop it. He also spent time in Colorado and died in Denver, wanting to be buried on Lookout Mountain near Golden where Michael went to high school. There is a small museum on Lookout Mountain dedicated to him. Many believe his grave was robbed and his body moved to Cody, but after seeing the amount of concrete they poured to prevent such things, I don’t think so. It is worthwhile seeing the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody. It is an incredible museum dedicated to the history of Bill Cody and artifacts of the American West.
From Sheridan, Wyoming to Cody it was a three-hour drive. The initial part through the Bighorn Mountains was scenic and snowy at times. Shell Falls are impressive at 120 feet.
On the drive, we came across three moose grazing by the side of the road. There appeared to be a male, female and possibly a yearling. We made sure to keep our distance. We’ve seen an incredible number of moose this year in the Bighorn Mountains and mountains around Cody.
Cody is just large enough to have a Walmart and other amenities to stock up before going into Yellowstone for a while. In the past, we entered Yellowstone National Park by the east entrance, which is very scenic.
This time, we wanted to drive the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway to Cooke City to the northeast entrance. It is the least used entrance of the park, so we were hoping to see wildlife and less people. We weren’t able to enter the park from this entrance yet because of the late snowfall but that is to be expected in the mountains.
A young moose near Cooke City. It knelt the entire time it grazed. Apparently, this is normal behavior because their legs are so long.
There are always pronghorn and deer in the background.
More moose in downtown Cooke City, Montana. We were surprised they jumped the fence to enter this enclosure. They had gone back in the woods on the return drive. We’ve seen 13 moose in two weeks! Just amazing.
Highway repairs seem to be the ongoing summer project in the mountains.
An arrowleaf balsamroot plant in bloom. Long known for its medicinal properties, we prefer its photographic potential.
We always enjoy seeing Indian Paintbrush when it and other wildflowers start blooming in the spring.
Buffalo Bluff RV Park
We had 50-amp electric, good water pressure, and sewer. Their WIFI was fast enough to stream. Laundry was great and showers new and clean. Our site was a pull through. Our rear window looked out west at the mountains. Buffalo Bluff was small, but still had a small enclosed dog park which Jake always appreciates.
