Visitor Information | Travel By Air | The Road Network | Visiting By Season
Make the Most of Your Visit to Southern Wyoming
Depending on the type of experience you desire, there are several considerations:
- What type of recreation you are planning to do?
- Are licenses, permits or fees required for your activities?
- What outdoor gear should you bring in advance?
- Where can you buy or rent outdoor gear locally?
- What time of year is the best for your type of recreation?
- Are there local events that coincide with the time of your visit?
- What types of lodging, dining, shopping and other area services are available?
- What routes should you use to get around?
The focus of this website is to provide you with answers to these and many other questions. Other sources of visitor information that may also prove helpful are listed below.
Visitor Information
For area regulations, restrictions and travel information on the Medicine Bow - Routt National Forest, there are two district ranger offices. The Laramie Ranger District, located at 2468 Jackson St., Laramie, WY 82070; 307-745-2300; www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/about/districts/laramie.shtml, manages the eastern portion of the Snowy Range and Pole Mountain. The Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District, located at S. Hwy. 130, P. O. Box 249, Saratoga, WY 82331; 307-326-5258; www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/about/districts/brush.shtml, manages the western portion of the Snowy Range and all of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
For area regulations, restrictions and travel information on public lands, contact the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), located at 1300 3rd St., Rawlins, WY 82301; 307-328-4200; www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/field_offices/Rawlins.html. The Rawlins Field Office manages 3.5 million acres of public lands in south-central Wyoming, which, in addition to many recreational opportunities, includes six campgrounds and three wild horse management areas.
For general wildlife information, area fishing and hunting regulations, applications and deadlines, contact the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), located at 5400 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82006; 307-777-4600; http://gf.state.wy.us. The WGFD manages fish, game and nongame wildlife and their habitats throughout Wyoming.
For area travel and tourism information, contact the following: The Carbon County Visitors Council in Rawlins at 800-228-3547; www.WyomingCarbonCounty.com or The Rawlins-Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, located at 519 W. Cedar St., Rawlins, WY 82301; 307-324-4111; www.rawlinschamberofcommerce.org.
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Travel By Air
The nearest major airport is Denver International Airport (DIA), located in Denver, CO. DIA is about two hours drive from Laramie. However, there are flights that connect directly into Laramie through Great Lakes Airline at 1-800-554-5111. Rawlins and Saratoga have smaller airports to accommodate private and charter aircraft.
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The Road Network
The main routes of travel for motorists include Interstate 80 (east/west), state highways, county and forest roads. Click on map (right) for more details.
As weather conditions can change rapidly, depending on the season, it’s a good idea to know the road conditions before you travel. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) provides reliable, regular travel reports at 511 or 1-888-996-7623; www.wyoroad.info that include road surface conditions, travel advisories, temporary and seasonal road closures and current weather conditions.
For travel in the Medicine Bow National Forest, a free motor vehicle use map (MVUM) is available at each local Ranger District office and at www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/recreation/ travel_management/mvumindex.shtml. The MVUM is a black and white map, with no topographic features, that displays roads and trails open to motorized travel.
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Visiting By Season
Ranging in elevation from 6,000 ft. and 12,000 ft. above sea level, Southern Wyoming is a mixture of short-grass prairies with pockets of Rocky Mountain Ranges and several flat, dry and brushy areas. This variety of terrain, coupled with consistent weather cycles, provide specific “seasons” for outdoor recreation.
Fishing Season: Open water can be found year-round, however fly fishermen prefer to fish the rivers late-April through September. High alpine lakes and streams are accessible late-June through October, while January and February are typically the best months for ice fishing at lower elevation lakes. A Wyoming fishing license is required.
Floating/Wading Season: Typically May through September. The duration of this season is determined mainly by the amount of snowpack at high elevations and the rate at which it melts throughout the summer. It is best to book guided float trips in advance.
Hiking, Mountain Biking and Camping Season: Typically late-May through October. However, access to high elevation trails and campgrounds is not available until late-June/early-July.
Big Game Hunting Season: Typically mid-August through October, depending on license type and hunt area.
Snowmobiling and Skiing Season: Typically mid-November through April, depending on snow available at higher elevations. A snowmobiling permit is required. Check current snow conditions at www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Wyoming/wyoming.html.
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