Hole in the Wall Tours
The Hole in the Wall and Outlaw Canyon are great places to explore outside of Kaycee Wyoming because they are beautiful areas with interesting history. The southern end of Johnson County became known as a haven for outlaws in the late 19th century because it was a remote location away from law enforcement officers of the day. The areas were hard to reach with only a few ways in and out of the valleys and canyons.
That remains true today, as only a few roadways cross the Hole in the Wall valley to Outlaw Canyon. With limited signage for the many historic sites in the region, the best way to visit the Hole in the Wall is to take the annual tour offered by the Hoofprints of the Past Museum out of Kaycee.
“The beauty of the Hole in the Wall is its inaccessibility. Its bordered on the western side with the Bighorn Mountains. On the east side it’s bordered by a 35-mile long red rim that towers 400 feet above the valley floor. Beautiful, perfect place for rustlers to bring in good stock.
“Even today, it’s difficult to find a way to get in there.”
Clay Gibbons, Wyoming historian
Hoofprints of the Past Museum
The Hoofprints of the Past Museum in downtown Kaycee displays items of regional history from the times of Native Americans, the first people of European descent in the area, the Johnson County War, the Outlaw Era, and much more. In addition to the collection at the museum, Hoofprints of the Past also offers three annual tours – the Hole in the Wall tour, the Johnson County War tour, and the Powder River Pioneers tour.
Historic Site Tours
The Hoofprints of the Past Museum has three day-long tours each year that are popular, sometimes selling out weeks ahead of time. One involves a caravan of vehicles and two include bus transportation. All include lunch in historic locations. The tours serve as fundraisers for the museum.
Hole in the Wall Tour
The annual Hole in the Wall Tour, which this year will be held on Saturday, June 13, traces the steps of the Outlaw Era, including an early gunfight in the Johnson County War through the famous Hole in the Wall Fight.
The tour begins in Kaycee at the Nolen ranch site, where the Hole in the Wall gang hid from the posse after the Wilcox Train Robbery. It then follows the Old Barnum Road to the location where Kid Curry of the Hole in the Wall gang shot Sheriff Deane before traveling into the famous Hole in the Wall Valley. Here the numerous stories of fact regarding local outlaws are related by knowledgeable authors and local historians.
Site stops include overlook of the Hall Cabin where Nate Champion was first ambushed in the Johnson County War; Hole in the Wall valley; the homestead site of Alex Ghent, horse trader and friend of the outlaws; the real Hole in the Wall site, where a picnic lunch is enjoyed; and finally traveling to the Hole in the Wall Gap on the Red Wall.
Participants can opt to hike to the top of the Hole in the Wall for views of the valley below.
Johnson County War Tour
The Johnson County War Tour this year will be August 22. It allows attendees to travel by bus the approximate route of the “Invaders” in their fateful attack on the “Rustlers” in April of 1892. Guests will learn about the origins of the cattle war while stopping at various sites of historical significance along the way, including the KC Ranch, the 28 Ranch, the TA Ranch, and assassination sites of John A. Tisdale and Ranger Jones.
Powder River Pioneers Tour
The Powder River of Kaycee was the stage where early explorers, travelers, fur traders, the U.S. military, Indians, missionaries, and cattle barons played their part in Western expansion. They built posts, forts, and a “castle,” at times working together and other times fighting each other for their piece of this land.
This tour – set for September 12 this year – will travel by bus eastward from Kaycee through the Powder River Country with stops such as the 1834 Portuguese Fort of Antonio Montero; the Townsend Wagon Train Fight site along the Bozeman Trail; U.S. Military Cantonment Reno and Fort Reno sites; and cattle baron Moreton Frewen’s “Castle” site at the 76 Ranch Headquarters.
Clay Gibbons’ Hole in the Wall tour
Wyoming historian Clay Gibbons gives a tour of the Hole in the Wall each year on the Saturday of Memorial Day. His tour includes a 1,500-year-old Indian Trail, the site and story of the Hole in the Wall Fight, the original Hole in the Wall cabin, stories of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and an opportunity to climb to the top of the Hole in the Wall.
This tour starts out of Thermopolis and does not include lunch. Guests should have 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles. Very little walking needed but guests will have the opportunity to hike to the top of the Hole.
Contact Clay Gibbons to reserve a spot at 307-388-4145 or Claygibbons@hotmail.com.
Preserving History in Kaycee, WY
The Hoofprints of the Past Museum offers a great way to learn about essential Western history through artifacts from pivotal events. Founded in 1990, the museum showcases items related to Native American history, the 1834 Portuguese Fort and the early fur trade, the Bozeman Trail, Fort Reno, the Dull Knife Battle of 1876, the Johnson County War, and the Outlaw Era.
The museum also has information, including maps and directions, for those visitors planning to explore the Hole in the Wall or Outlaw Canyon on their own.
Plan Your Next Visit in Kaycee, WY
Kaycee is a great basecamp for visitors who want to learn about Western history where it actually happened – with places such as Hole in the Wall, Outlaw Canyon, the KC Ranch Site. In addition to fishing, hiking and camping opportunities in southern Johnson County, Kaycee offers restaurants such as Bunkhouse Bakery, Taylor’s Invasion Bar, Cowlick Creamery; community rodeos at Harold Jarrard Park in the summer; and the new Kaycee Outlaw Music Festival in June. Visitors to Kaycee also enjoy paying homage to the rodeo champion and country music legend at Chris LeDoux Park.
Kaycee has two camping/RV parks – Powder River Campground and KC RV Park – and two motels, Cassidy Inn and Siesta Motel.
