McCullough Peaks Wild Mustang Tour from Cody

A free-roaming herd, a badlands landscape and a spotting scope

⏱ 3 hours👤 All ages$$

The McCullough Peaks country looks nothing like Yellowstone. It is arid, rolling and strangely beautiful, with banded hills in red and cream, sagebrush flats and wide skies. The mustang herd living there is one of the most accessible in Wyoming, and watching it is a quiet, absorbing experience. Mares keep foals close, stallions watch for rivals, and bands move across the hills with the unhurried confidence of animals that have always lived here.

The guide does more than drive. Expect context about how wild horse herds are managed on public land, what they eat, how they survive winters and how the bands are structured, plus identification of individual animals that the guide knows by sight. Spotting scopes let the group see detail from a distance, and photographers will want a long lens. Dress for the weather, in layers, with sun protection and sturdy shoes, because the viewing involves some standing on uneven ground. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and the 100-yard distance rule means the horses are watched, not approached.

Plan the day. Morning departures give cooler temperatures and active animals, and the tour fits well before a visit to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West or Old Trail Town. Because the roads are unpaved, rain can affect access, so keep your plans flexible. Combine it with a Yellowstone day trip from Cody on another day, as the east entrance is about an hour away. Fit: horse lovers, photographers, families with older children and anyone who wants a different side of Wyoming. Bring a hat, sunglasses and plenty of water, because the badlands have almost no shade, and closed shoes help on loose ground. Children enjoy the scope views, and a short wildlife checklist makes the three hours pass quickly. Ask the guide about the best light for photographs, since the cliffs behind the horses can glow orange in the early sun.