Guides/Overland routes/Wyoming
Overland route29 midifficulty: easy

Snowy Range Scenic Byway

RegionWyomingAgencyU.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Department of TransportationLast verified—
Snowy Range Scenic Byway — overland route near Centennial, Wyoming, Wyoming
Photo by Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Trail vitals6 facts
Length
29mi
Technical difficulty
Easy
Direction
Point to point
Vehicle
Any street-legal vehicle. Paved its full length. Closed seasonally with snow.
Best months
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Cell coverage
None on the high stretch; service in Centennial, Saratoga, and Laramie.
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Snowy Range Scenic Byway is a 29-mile paved highway, WY-130, that crosses the Snowy Range between Centennial on the east and Saratoga on the west on Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. The route tops Snowy Range Pass at 10,847 feet, the second-highest paved crossing in Wyoming after the Beartooth. The Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft) and Mirror Lake corridor are the byway's centerpiece.

The road closes seasonally with snow, typically from late October to Memorial Day weekend. Most drivers run the byway in 90 minutes, longer with stops at the Lake Marie or Mirror Lake pullouts. There are no technical obstacles; the interest is the alpine quartzite scenery and access to FS trailheads at the high lakes.

Hazards

Read before you go

  • Seasonal closures. WY-130 closes from late October to Memorial Day weekend.
  • High elevation. Snowy Range Pass tops 10,847 feet. Watch for altitude effects and afternoon thunderstorms.
  • Wildlife. Moose and elk cross. Bighorn sheep occasionally on the upper slopes.
  • Crosswinds at the pass. Particularly hazardous for high-profile vehicles.
  • Limited services. No fuel between Centennial and Saratoga.

Location

29 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 41.343, -106.304

Trail facts

5 fields
AgencyU.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Department of Transportation
Nearest townCentennial, Wyoming
Websitewww.fs.usda.gov/r02/mbr
ClosedNov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Approx. location41.343, -106.304

Getting there

Directions

From Centennial / Laramie (east entrance). Take WY-130 west from Laramie about thirty miles to Centennial. The climb begins immediately west of town.

From Saratoga (west entrance). Take WY-130 east from Saratoga. The climb gains gradually before the upper switchbacks.

Photos

1 photo

Photos · 1

Field notes

Getting Oriented

The byway runs east-west on WY-130 between Centennial (in the Laramie Basin east of the range) and Saratoga (in the Saratoga valley west of the range). Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest's Brush Creek-Hayden and Laramie Ranger Districts manage the FS lands along the corridor. The Snowy Range itself is a small but high quartzite range, with Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft) as the high point.

Trail Overview

Twenty-nine miles, point-to-point, paved. The eastern climb out of Centennial gains about 2,500 feet to Snowy Range Pass; the western descent drops about the same to Saratoga. The high stretch above 10,000 feet runs through alpine tundra past Mirror Lake and Lake Marie. There are no technical obstacles. RVs and trailers handle the route, with caution on the switchbacks.

Points of Interest

  • Snowy Range Pass (10,847 ft). The crest. Views of Medicine Bow Peak and the high lakes basin.
  • Mirror Lake. Glacial lake on the byway with a developed picnic area and the Medicine Bow Peak trailhead.
  • Lake Marie. Glacial lake adjacent to Mirror Lake with a paved short trail and picnic sites.
  • Sugarloaf Recreation Area. USFS recreation area on the byway with a campground and trails.
  • Centennial Visitor Center. USFS information stop at the eastern entrance.
  • Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft). Hikable from the Mirror Lake trailhead; about 7 miles round-trip.

Where to Camp

Medicine Bow-Routt maintains several developed campgrounds on or near the byway: Sugarloaf, Brooklyn Lake, Nash Fork, North Fork, and Lake Owen. Dispersed camping is allowed on FS land off side roads with the standard 16-day stay limit. Centennial and Saratoga have private campgrounds and motels.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

  • The road closes from late October to Memorial Day weekend. Confirm with WYDOT before driving.
  • Top off in Centennial or Saratoga. There is no fuel on the byway.
  • Mirror Lake is the most popular trailhead and pullout. Arrive early on summer weekends.
  • The Medicine Bow Peak hike from Mirror Lake or Lake Marie is the standard day hike off the byway.
  • Watch for moose in the willow flats below the pass.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Snowy Range Scenic Byway?
Snowy Range Scenic Byway is rated easy. The route runs 29 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for Snowy Range Scenic Byway?
Any street-legal vehicle. Paved its full length. Closed seasonally with snow.
When is the best time to visit Snowy Range Scenic Byway?
The best months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Avoid Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May.
Is there cell service at Snowy Range Scenic Byway?
None on the high stretch; service in Centennial, Saratoga, and Laramie.
Snowy Range Scenic Byway — Ordealist