Laramie has a lot to offer in terms of outdoor activities, too. Materials from the Laramie, WY, Visitors’ Center gave us a number of options for exploring the area. The most intriguing, by far, was the Snowy Range Scenic Byway (WY Hwy 130) 27 west of town. The Byway is only 29 miles long, but has breathtaking scenery and good opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing. Designated the second National Forest Scenic Byway in the U.S., the Snowy Range Byway was begun in 1920 and took 6 years to complete. It was called the “Great Skyroad.”
As we headed out, light rain spattered on the windshield and we saw herds of cattle grazing in the Laramie Valley.
Soon, however, we reached the small town of Centennial on the eastern edge of the route, and the road began to climb. The Snowy Range rose to meet us.
The Byway crosses the Medicine Bow Mountain Range. It only takes about 45 minutes if you stay on the highway, but you’ll miss a lot of wonderful scenery. We took the Barber Lake and Libby Creek Road just a few miles outside of town. There are several campgrounds on both sides of the Byway, but none have electrical hookups. A couple of miles before rejoining the main road, we saw our first wildlife…a moose cow and her calf crossed the road. The calf paused briefly and I got a photo or two before it followed mom up the hill.
Continuing down the highway, we saw a gravel turnoff called the Brooklyn Lake Road. There are campgrounds along this road as well, along with several pretty little lakes.
Wildflowers were everywhere, and some of the prettiest surrounded the tiny Saint Alban’s Episcopal Chapel near Little Brooklyn Lake.
Services are held there Sundays at 10:00.
The chapel is dedicated to the memory of Julie Vella Ivins Stone (1887-1938). I tried, but was unable to find out who she was, or when the chapel was erected. It is a lovely spot, though, and is often used for weddings and other events.
Services are held there Sundays at 10:00.
But the best part of the trip down Brooklyn Lake Road were Bullwinkle and his friends.
We came around a corner and there, only some 70 yards from the road were these three handsome bull moose. Their antlers were in velvet, and they were calmly munching vegetation and chewing their cuds. We watched them for 5 or 10 minutes on the way in, and stopped again on our way out.
We came around a corner and there, only some 70 yards from the road were these three handsome bull moose. Their antlers were in velvet, and they were calmly munching vegetation and chewing their cuds. We watched them for 5 or 10 minutes on the way in, and stopped again on our way out.
The largest of the three had a very distinctive chunk missing from his left ear. It should allow us to identify him if we ever see him again.
Based on research into moose antlers, we think he is possibly about 4 years old, while the youngster in the background is probably in his second year.
We think this fellow is probably 3 years old, but invite some of our moose expert friends to weigh in if they have a different opinion.
We enjoyed seeing this mule deer doe in the background watching the bull moose.
And the dogs were very interested as well. I wonder if Rue thinks they are just big cows with funny horns? We didn't dare let her out of the car to find out. Kota's demeanor makes me think she was remembering the young whitetail buck she, Lucky Dog and Nickie chased and "bagged" when she was only a year old.
We hace seen moose several times before, but always cows and usually at some distance. Seeing these big guys so close was a real treat!
There was plenty of snow in the Snowy Range. We had good views of it as we ate our picnic lunch in the Sugarloaf Recreation Area. The gravel road to this site ends at a trailhead which leads to over eighty mountain and glacial lakes, as well as the summits of Sugarloaf Mountain (11,398 ft.) and Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft.)
We hiked a mile or so around the lake and played in one of the snowbanks close to the trail. We wish family and friends baking in the heat back in Texas could be here with us. It is glorious.
Kota and Rue love the snow, and raced madly across the surface, stopping to roll in it. (John said Kota was making the dog version of a snow angel.)
On the promise of a treat, they finally stopped just long enough for John to snap a quick picture, and then they were off again.
As we walked around the lake, wildflowers and thick bushes lined the trail.
We kept hearing sharp chips, or pips. I thought it might be alarm calls from pika or marmots, but was never able to see one. Then, movement in the trailside brush caught my eye. The "pips" were coming from this little fellow.
Looking through the Audubon app on my phone, I think it is a white-crowned sparrow. He may have been little, but he was certainly noisy.
Another worthwhile stop along the Snow Range Scenic Byway was the observation point overlooking Libby Flats.
The stone structure was constructed in 1961, and offers views of several mountain ranges.
Nearby, we saw these trees. They are sometimes called "flag trees," but the proper term is Krummholz, a German word meaning "crooked timber" or "elfin timber." These wind-shaped trees mark the transitional zone from forest to alpine tundra. They are "naked" on the windward side and often lean to leeward, away from the wind.
We kept hearing sharp chips, or pips. I thought it might be alarm calls from pika or marmots, but was never able to see one. Then, movement in the trailside brush caught my eye. The "pips" were coming from this little fellow.
Looking through the Audubon app on my phone, I think it is a white-crowned sparrow. He may have been little, but he was certainly noisy.
Another worthwhile stop along the Snow Range Scenic Byway was the observation point overlooking Libby Flats.
The stone structure was constructed in 1961, and offers views of several mountain ranges.
Nearby, we saw these trees. They are sometimes called "flag trees," but the proper term is Krummholz, a German word meaning "crooked timber" or "elfin timber." These wind-shaped trees mark the transitional zone from forest to alpine tundra. They are "naked" on the windward side and often lean to leeward, away from the wind.
It was an incredible day! Don't miss the Snowy Range Scenic Byway if you're in the area.
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