Wednesday in Wyoming - July 30, 2025

 

For sheer scenic beauty, it's hard to beat Lake Marie in the Snowy Range. 

If you were only looking at a map, you might think that the mountains were given that name because they're covered with snow during most of the year. Not so. It's the rocks that led settlers to call them snowy. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - June 28, 2023

 

If the Grand Encampment Museum isn't enough to convince you to visit the little town, perhaps the scenic road that leads to it will. This is part of the Snowy Range Highway, one of my favorite drives in southern Wyoming. Beautiful scenery and little traffic -- it doesn't get much better.

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 12, 2022

 

While many deciduous trees in Wyoming turn shades of gold and yellow each fall, some become vibrant reddish orange. 

This scene, which never fails to delight me, was taken in the Snowy Range, part of the Medicine Bow National Forest west of Laramie.

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 25, 2021

 

The last two weeks' blog posts have shown you the brilliant colors of autumn in the Snowy Range. All too soon, they fade and snow arrives. 

The amount of the snow and the road's elevation (peaking at over 10,000 feet) result in the only road through the Snowies being closed for more than six months each winter. 

No cars are allowed, but that doesn't stop winter sports enthusiasts from coming. During the snowed-in months, the Snowy Range is a mecca for skiers and snowmobilers.

You'll find me at home, drinking cocoa and waiting for the snow to melt and the road to reopen.

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 18, 2021

 

When you think of brilliant red autumn foliage, Wyoming may not be first on your list of places to see it. But fall brings glorious colors to parts of Wyoming, including the Snowy Range.

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 11, 2021

 

Autumn brings brilliant colors to the Snowy Range. The aspen at lower elevations turn their signature gold, while the tundra becomes fiery red and rust. Cooler temperatures make hiking all the more appealing, as does the absence of crowds.

Have I convinced you to detour off I-80 to visit the Snowy Range the next time you're crossing Wyoming? I hope so, because it's a special place.

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 4, 2021

 

This month I'm going to highlight the Snowy Range, a particularly scenic part of the Medicine Bow National Forest.

Dotted with small lakes, evergreens, and the white mountains that give the area its name, it's a wonderful place to camp, hike, or picnic. Best of all, at least for me, it's an easy drive from Cheyenne.

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 30, 2019

Did you ever doubt the power of the wind in Wyoming? If so, consider the way the aspen's trunk is bent.

Just another beautiful scene in the Snowy Range.

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 23, 2019

Although we couldn't go all the way to Brooklyn Lake, thanks to the unseasonable snow in the Snowy Range, we did see a number of smaller lakes, including Little Brooklyn Lake.

Beautiful!

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 16, 2019

Here's something you don't see in too many parks - a chapel.

That was one of the pleasant surprises along the road to Brooklyn Lake in the Snowy Range.

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 9, 2019

The plan for our mid-July trip to the Snowy Range had been to drive to Brooklyn Lake, hike around the lake, and admire the wildflowers. Unfortunately, the Snowies lived up to their name, and - to my surprise - a number of the side roads, including the one to Brooklyn Lake, were still impassible due to snow.

That was disappointing. What wasn't disappointing were the wildflowers. As you can see, they practically carpeted the area.

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 2, 2019

You may recall the Snowy Range from previous posts and that it got its name, not from snow, but from the white rocks.

I'd never been there during the summer but wanted to see the wildflowers, so in the middle of July, my husband and I headed that way.

As you can see, although the main road was clear, there was snow on the mountain tops. You can also see that this is quintessential Wyoming road -- no traffic, just lots of beautiful scenery.

Next week, you'll see the surprise that awaited us.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- October 26, 2016

Even though it was only the beginning of fall according to the calendar, Wyoming's autumnal beauty was at its peak the day my husband and I drove to the Snowy Range.

For those of you who've never been to Wyoming, here's one of the reasons I enjoy my adopted home -- beauty and solitude less than two hours from Cheyenne.  For me, this was the perfect place to relax and reflect on all that's good in the world.

What's your special place?

Wednesday in Wyoming -- October 19, 2016

Golden aspens forming a frame around an evergreen -- what more can I say other than that the beauty made my heart sing?

This is another picture from the Snowy Range and the Medicine Bow National Forest.  As you've probably guessed from the fact that this is the third photo from that area, I'm spotlighting the Snowies this month.  They're not the most famous mountains in Wyoming, but the area is among the most beautiful.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- October 12, 2016

When you hear the name "Snowy Range" do you picture mountains that are snow-capped year round?  That's not the reason Wyoming's Snowy Range got its name.  Instead, it's because of the white granite mountains.  And, as you can see, some of the boulders from those peaks are indeed the color of snow.

If you were wondering, the Snowy Range is part of the Medicine Bow National Forest, southwest of Laramie.  It's become one of my favorite day trip destinations, especially during autumn, when the fall colors provide a dramatic contrast to the evergreens and those white mountains.