Wyoming Highway 24
Wyoming Highway 24, also known as the Bear Lodge Highway, is a 46.72-mile state highway in Crook County, Wyoming, United States, that connects U.S. Route 14 in Carlile Junction with South Dakota Highway 34 at the South Dakota state line. The route passes through the northern portion of the Bear Lodge Mountains, part of the Black Hills National Forest. The highway also passes by Devils Tower National Monument.
Route description
WYO 24 is begins at US 14 in Carlile Junction. From its western terminus, it travels in a north–south direction, although the route is signed east–west. It is mainly a two-lane highway from US 14 to near Devils Tower National Monument. When it gets to Devils Tower, it spawns a short spur, Wyoming Highway 110. After passing by WYO 110, it curves northeast-southwest. The road reaches Hulett, where it intersects Wyoming Highway 112. In Hulett, WYO 24 is dubbed Main Street and A Street. Moving on, WYO 24 curves to the signed east–west orientation, but curves northwest-southeast. WYO 24 passes by some gulches, most notably Reservoir Gulch and Lucky Gulch. WYO 24 then turns south, then generally follows the east–west orientation. It then intersects Wyoming Highway 111 a short time later. There are no further major junctions and towns on the route, as WYO 24 crosses the state line and becomes SD 34.The highway primarily serves regional traffic, tourism-related travel, and local access between communities in northern Crook County. Seasonal traffic volumes increase during the summer months due to visitation to Devils Tower National Monument and recreational use of the surrounding Black Hills region.
History
WYO 24 was not in the original State Highway grid until 1961. The predecessor to this route was Wyoming Highway 514.The designation was applied as part of a broader reorganization of Wyoming’s state highway numbering system in the early 1960s. Since its establishment, WYO 24 has remained a key east–west connector in northeastern Wyoming, particularly for access to Devils Tower and nearby communities.
In 2018, the speed limit on WYO 24 near Devils Tower was reduced from to due to higher traffic volumes during peak travel seasons and the road's history of collisions. The monument had its highest visitor count in 2021, which saw traffic jams from the entrance that slowed a section of WYO 24.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation continues to manage and maintain WYO 24, with periodic safety improvements focused on traffic flow, signage, and access near high-visitor areas. These efforts are primarily concentrated near Devils Tower National Monument due to seasonal congestion and safety considerations.