VIP's Snowy Range & Sierra Madre Mountain Recreation Guide

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Saratoga | Points of Interest | Encampment and Riverside
Platte Valley Events and Attractions

The Upper North Platte River Valley, nestled between the Snowy Range and the Sierra Madre Range, is surrounded by magnificent vistas. This lush valley is known for excellent “Blue Ribbon” trout fishing, abundant wildlife and natural mineral hot springs. The Platte Valley includes the small towns of Saratoga (21 miles south of I-80), Encampment and Riverside (17 miles south of Saratoga) and the Upper North Platte and Encampment Rivers.

Saratoga

Saratoga has plenty of services, places to stay, eat and shop, convenience stores, a grocery store, a medical clinic and two large parks. Originally known as Warm Springs, Saratoga was renamed in 1886 by Fenimore Chatterton, after Saratoga Springs, New York. "Saratoga" is the Native America word meaning “place of miraculous water in rock".

Points of Interest

Saratoga Hot Pool For more than a century, people have enjoyed soaking in Saratoga’s Mineral Hot Springs Pool. Operated by the Town of Saratoga, it is open 24 hours a day and free of charge. Water temperatures average 102 degrees Fahrenheit; the Lobster Pot averages 120 degrees. Showers, restrooms and changing facilities are available. The Hot Pool is adjacent to the Saratoga Municipal Outdoor Pool.

The Upper North Platte River, which flows north, gains its name from French trappers, “Riviere de Plat” meaning “flat river”. It was ingeniously used in the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad to float logs, cut from the forest by tie hacks, to Fort Fred Steele. The logs were then split and used as railroad ties. There are many fishable waters in the Valley, including the North Platte River which has an abundance of large browns and rainbows. For more information, see Fish, Float & Boat It.

Saratoga Lake, minutes NE of town, is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. A 50-site campground, operated by the Town of Saratoga, a boat dock and restrooms are accessible from the Highway 130 entrance. The Storer-Saratoga Lake Wetland is home to hundreds of species of birds including herons, ibis, loons, geese, ducks, pelicans, rails, bitterns, coots, egrets, eagles, hawks and osprey. The annual Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby, is held here the third weekend in January. Click on the map (left) for a larger view of the map.

Saratoga’s National Fish Hatchery, two miles northeast of Saratoga off Highway 130, contributes to recreation fishing throughout the nation. Brood stock rainbow, lake, brown and greenback cutthroat trout are reared here. Visitors are welcome year round, 8am to 4pm daily. For more information, call 307-326-5662.

The Historic Hotel Wolf has been in the Valley since 1893. Known for its fine dining and quaint rooms, the Wolf has been a gathering spot for the community and tourists for over 100 years. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

An archeological exhibit of early man in the Platte Valley, geological collections, the original bar from the Hotel Wolf, a buffalo hunt diorama, photographs from the late-1800’s and many other historical exhibits can be found at the Saratoga Museum. Housed in the town’s original Union Pacific Depot, the Museum also features a Union Pacific caboose and an adjoining pavilion for outdoor concerts.
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Encampment and Riverside

Encampment and Riverside have several services, places to stay, eat and shop, convenience stores and a grocery store. There is a large park at Riverside a picnic area and restrooms. Both towns are known for their close proximity to recreation in the mountains and famed Hog Park Reservoir and their excellent access to the Encampment River. Click on the map (right) to see services and attractions in Encampment and Riverside.

The Grand Encampment, as it was formerly known, boomed at the turn-of-the century with copper mining and smelting. From 1903-1908, a sixteen-mile, steam powered, aerial tramway carried copper ore from mines in the Sierra Madre Range to Encampment for smelting. Small towns sprang up near the larger mines. However, when the boom ended, mines were abandoned and town populations diminished.

Riverside, originally named Doggett after Newton Doggett, is adjacent to Encampment, on the banks of the Encampment River. Established prior to Encampment as ranch headquarters for the Swan Land and Cattle Company, the town of Doggett also prospered during the copper boom. The name was later changed to Riverside in 1902.
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Platte Valley Events & Attractions

Woodchopper’s Jamboree & Rodeo is an annual event where participants compete for the title of Rocky Mountain Champion Lumberjack. The weekend also includes rodeos, a parade and an evening melodrama. Dates: June 19-20, 2010.

There's fun for the entire family at Saratoga's Independence Day Celebration. An old-fashioned parade kicks off the festivities, followed by a short melodrama. Come whistle at the saloon girls, boo the villains and cheer for the heroes. A car show, poker run, artists-at-work demonstrations, and a fantastic fireworks display are among the day's events.Dates: July 4, 2010.

Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering & Living History Days is an authentically historical weekend that includes team roping, stick horse races, gun fighter shootouts, a melodrama, cowboy poetry and music and a pancake breakfast. Dates: July 16-18, 2010.

At the annual Sierra Muzzleloaders Mountain Man Rendezvous & Black Powder Shoot, locals dress in authentic costumes to recreate the days of the mountain men. Weekend events include black powder shoots and tomahawk throws. Dates: July 23-25, 2010.

Steinly Cup State Microbrewery Competition and Saratoga Bullfest are annual events where participants come for the beer and stay for the bull---an evening bull-riders only competition, that is. Live music included. Date: August 21, 2010.

The 14th Annual Ryan Park Property & Homeowners Association and the Ryan Park Volunteer Fire Department Annual Auction is held each August. Lunch precedes the Auction at 1pm; $6/adult and $4/child. Date: August 28, 2010.
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Blackhawk Gallery
100 N. First St. | P. O. Box 1557
Saratoga, WY 82331
307-326-5063 | FAX 307-326-8061
blackhawk@carbonpower.net | www.blackhawkgallery.com
Blackhawk Gallery features bronzes, original oils and watercolors, Native American art and textiles, fine jewelry and fetishes. We are Wyoming’s original gold-level Trollbeads dealer! Open year round. Summer hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-3pm. Closed during the week of Thanksgiving; closed January through April on Sundays only. Call us for special upcoming events. Click here to see our ad.

Explore Southern Wyoming with VIP's SNOWY RANGE AND SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAIN RECREATION GUIDE

Saratoga

Points of Interest

Encampment and Riverside

Platte Valley Events & Attractions

Explore Southern Wyoming with
VIP's
SNOWY RANGE AND SIERRA MADRE
MOUNTAIN RECREATION GUIDE