MissouriBreaks
New member
I chose my username due to driving this byway in 2016, in my now former FJ Cruiser. Another user sent me a PM about the area and rather than take over his adventure thread, I decided to post my pictures and travels here.
My trip was planned to experience scenic / back country areas, as I live and work in the Chicago area, where there are few trails outside of the concrete jungle and this thread only relates to the Missouri Breaks area.
I planned to see at least one of the 3 free car ferries that cross the Missouri River, as I grew up in Wisconsin, near the Merrimac Ferry across the Wisconsin River. Having also found the Missouri Breaks Back Country Scenic Byway, I planned these two events together, since the McLelland Ferry is just to the west of the National Monument.
I recommend traveling the byway from West to East.
Here is the Ferry
FJ on Ferry. I was there on July 5 and asked the operator how many cars he saw in a typical day. He said there were 24 cars that crossed on the 4th of July, but normally he had about 10 to 12 cars a day.
From the Ferry, I drove south to Simac Road and turned east. Along Simac Road I saw this doe standing in the wheat/grass. I know it was standing as I spooked it and it started jumping. It was crazy to see it jumping out of the grass.
Driving east on Simac Road, I came to Kjorlien Road and turned north and drove to the intersection of DY Trail. Turned north onto DY Trail. The road slowly begins to deteriorate from a paved gravel road to two ruts and/or mud road.
These shots were taken driving down Woodhawk Bottom Road to a free BLM campground, where I spent the evening.
View Right from road
View straight along Road
Another view to the right, just above the campground
View looking at the road from the campground area.
The next morning it was overcast and lightly raining, so it was more fun!
As I mentioned, the road deteriorates from gravel to two ruts.
At some point, DY Trail goes down to the river and ends, you want to stay on the Lower Two Calf Road.
There are some hills when going down to Two Calf Creek.
A view from somewhere on the road, above the valley that Two Calf Creek is in.
When I got down to the Two Calf Creek crossing, I checked out the crossing conditions prior to attempting the crossing. I found the approach from the West to be washed out and since I was alone, I decided not to cross. I missed about 3 miles of the byway and did not care so much as the scenery to that point was so good, I did not mind back tracking.
Can't wait to get back to this area in my 4Runner.
My trip was planned to experience scenic / back country areas, as I live and work in the Chicago area, where there are few trails outside of the concrete jungle and this thread only relates to the Missouri Breaks area.
I planned to see at least one of the 3 free car ferries that cross the Missouri River, as I grew up in Wisconsin, near the Merrimac Ferry across the Wisconsin River. Having also found the Missouri Breaks Back Country Scenic Byway, I planned these two events together, since the McLelland Ferry is just to the west of the National Monument.
I recommend traveling the byway from West to East.
Here is the Ferry
FJ on Ferry. I was there on July 5 and asked the operator how many cars he saw in a typical day. He said there were 24 cars that crossed on the 4th of July, but normally he had about 10 to 12 cars a day.
From the Ferry, I drove south to Simac Road and turned east. Along Simac Road I saw this doe standing in the wheat/grass. I know it was standing as I spooked it and it started jumping. It was crazy to see it jumping out of the grass.
Driving east on Simac Road, I came to Kjorlien Road and turned north and drove to the intersection of DY Trail. Turned north onto DY Trail. The road slowly begins to deteriorate from a paved gravel road to two ruts and/or mud road.
These shots were taken driving down Woodhawk Bottom Road to a free BLM campground, where I spent the evening.
View Right from road
View straight along Road
Another view to the right, just above the campground
View looking at the road from the campground area.
The next morning it was overcast and lightly raining, so it was more fun!
As I mentioned, the road deteriorates from gravel to two ruts.
At some point, DY Trail goes down to the river and ends, you want to stay on the Lower Two Calf Road.
There are some hills when going down to Two Calf Creek.
A view from somewhere on the road, above the valley that Two Calf Creek is in.
When I got down to the Two Calf Creek crossing, I checked out the crossing conditions prior to attempting the crossing. I found the approach from the West to be washed out and since I was alone, I decided not to cross. I missed about 3 miles of the byway and did not care so much as the scenery to that point was so good, I did not mind back tracking.
Can't wait to get back to this area in my 4Runner.
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