The historic Sierra Madre Range occupies the western most section of the Medicine Bow National Forest. Historically, fur trappers, copper and gold miners, and log cutters, were the only visitors that traveled upon and into this range of the Rocky Mountains, well, except for the indigenous people who had made these peaks and valleys their home. Now, today, wildlife and related outdoor activities are the primary attraction.

The highway and the summit pass are both named for a famous Battle between the native Americans and Fur Trappers in 1841, Battle Pass. This scenic byway is A 57-mile paved highway over the crest of the seldom visited Sierra Madre Mountains of the Medicine Bow National Forest, a drive that traverses a beautiful route which climbs high over the Sierra Madre mountains of southeastern Wyoming.

The Battle Highway Scenic Highway, also known as Wyoming State Highway (SH) 70, travels from the Encampment River near where SH 70 intersects with SH 230 at Ecncampment, Wyoming, and climbs over the Sierra Madre range. Approximately 10 miles west of Encampment is the location of Battle, one of many ghost towns in the Sierra Madres, which also is home to the towns of Redefeha, Dillon, Rambler, and Copperton.

Two miles west of the Continental Divide is a turnout overlooking Battle Lake and a monument to Thomas A. Edison. While vacationing here in 1878, Edison threw a broken bamboo fishing pole in the fire and was intrigued by the way the frayed pieces glowed. These observations supposedly gave Edison the idea on how to develop his own design for the light bulb’s filament.

The Battle Highway Scenic Highway, also known as Wyoming State Highway (SH) 70, begins in the east near the Encampment River at where SH 70 intersects with SH 230 in Ecncampment, Wyoming, and immediately begins to climb over the Sierra Madre range. Approximately 10 miles west of Encampment is the location of Battle, one of many ghost towns in the Sierra Madres, which also is home to the towns of Redefeha, Dillon, Rambler, and Copperton. At the Continental Divide is a trailhead parking lot for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Near this parking lot are several kiosks with information about the site,

Two miles west of the Continental Divide is a turnout overlooking Battle Lake and a monument to Thomas A. Edison. According the the monument, Edison at his campsite near to this monument, during a fishing trip in 1878, had his attention directed to the fiber from his bamboo fishing pole, which he apparently threw into the fire. He noticed how the frayed pieces glowed, which observations supposedly gave Edison the idea on how to develop his own design for the filament in his light bulb.

Four and a half miles west of the Edison monument, just after crossing Lost Creek on SH70 is the Lost Creek Campground, a National Forest site, open from mid-June to October, with 13 campsites with picnic tables, fire grates, vault toilets, all for a $10.00 per night fee. The scenic byway then continues down from the pass until arriving at the state line between Wyoming and Colorado where the roadpath begins traveling along the Little Snake River valley, crosses briefly into Colorado before returning to Wyoming. The road path continues along the river valley until reaching Baggs, Wyoming and which time SH 70 ends when it tees into SH 789 at the Stage Stop.

Turn right and SH 789 will take you north 50 miles to IH 80, with Wamsutter at 14 miles westward, Rawlings at 29 miles eastward.

1960s

Little Snake River

Between the 1940s and 1960s, Wyoming Highway 70 began in Baggs, Wyoming and connected with former Colorado State Highway 129, the Old Snake River Road which traveled east along the Wyoming-Colorado border and then south to Steamboat Springs and IH 40. The rest of SH 70 up to Battle Pas and then down to Encampment, Wyoming just did not exist.

It was not until after 1960 that Wyoming decided to built SH 70 North along the west side of Battle Mountain an then northeast into the Sierra Madre Mountains and over Battle Pass. through During the time Highway 129 existed, WY 70 didn't exist as it does now. Only the western part from SH 129 to Baggs was designated as Highway 70.[6] Former Colorado State Highway 129 is now Routt County Route 129.