The Hole-in-the-Wall

The outlaw period in Western History lasted only about 30 years (1875-1905), but the cattle rustlers, horse thieves and train robbers of this era still capture our imagination. Between escapades, the Wild West outlaws fled to hideouts to plan their next move. The Hole-in-the-Wall in Johnson County, Wyoming, was one of the major hideaways.The Hole-In-The-Wall refers to both the fertile valley where gang members pastured stolen livestock, and to the narrow trail up over the red wall – the only way into the valley from the east.

In the late 1800s, civilization in any direction was a day’s ride away, and few lawmen were up to the chase. Besides, they knew the outlaws guarded the trail. Through the years, the Hole-In-The-Wall was home to gunmen such as Jesse James, the Logan brothers, and George ‘Flat Nose’ Currie. Toward the end of the century Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch joined the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, making this one of the foremost outlaw headquarters along the outlaw trail.

Today, a rugged dirt road leads from ranch headquarters to the former hideout. Only a few chunks of foundation remain. Guests can picnic beneath the old cottonwoods and soak their feet in Buffalo Creek, where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid undoubtedly cooled their heels after out-running the posse.

Nearby, a 1/2-mile trail winds upward to the top of the red wall. A slab of white rock, shaped like an arrow, marks the narrow trail over which the outlaws drove their rustled livestock. It’s a steep hike over loose rocks but worth it. Looking down across the grassy green valley, visitors see firsthand why the outlaws chose this fertile, protected place.