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Dead Indian Pass

Mountain Pass in Shoshone NF, Rocky Mountains near Clark, WY

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Dead Indian Pass (8,071 feet (2,460 m)) is a mountain pass on Wyoming Highway 296. The pass is located on Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and crosses the Absaroka Range. Dead Indian Creek runs at the base of the pass. Near the pass are also Dead Indian Gulch, Dead Indian Mountain, and Dead Indian Mesa

Scenic View Into Sunlight Basin

Nez Perce War

Historical Marker

This pass is the summit of Dead Indian Hill. Through this portal great herds of wild game seasonally migrant from the mountains to the plains. This high pass was the gate way for countless Indian hunting and war parties, and through this portal Chief Joseph, in 1877, led his Nez Perce Indians in a strategic and defensive retreat, persued (sic) by U.S. Army soldiers. Over this on end only opening of valleys to the west traveled a vast army of miners to seek the wealth of Cooke City and down this steep hill the early settlers of Sunlight Basin braved its dangers. The first road improvement was made possible in 1909 by dwellers of Sunlight Valley whose names are here inscribed.

Adolphus J. Beam • Wm. V Campbell • Siras J. Davis • Wade W. McClung • Augustus A. LaFond • Oliver Whitney • Hervey G. Marvin • Samuel Thompson • John R. Painter • Evelyn T, Painter • Mary E. Painter • Wm. T. Painter • Marguerite M. Painter • John K. Rollinson • Willard D. Ruscher

Dedicated 1940

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Classified As

Mountain Pass