As days begin to shorten and temperatures begin to fall from the height of summer, we know our favorite time of year is right around the corner. The summer-to-fall transition is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty surrounding Laramie.
Whether you’re looking to hike or fish, enjoy wildlife viewing, or enjoy the last of ATV season, it is a wonderful time to book your stay in Laramie and come spend some time immersed in the outdoor paradise they have to offer just outside the edges of town. Here are some of our top recommendations for your visit this season.
When planning a trip to Laramie, your first big choice is where to stay. There are many great options in town for lodging, whether you are looking for a cute Airbnb or a hotel. You can stay conveniently on the edge of town for quick access to the outdoors or right downtown where you can walk to great restaurants, admire the college campus, and the history of the area. However, if you’re looking to visit to explore the outdoors this fall, we recommend staying at the Trailshead Lodge in Albany. It’s located about 30 minutes west of Laramie at the base of the Snowy Range Mountains. It is a ride in, ride-out property that can be used year round for side-by-sides and ATVs, as well as snowmobiles in the wintertime. It just reopened this summer after changing ownership, and the new owners have hit the ground running to make improvements and provide a fantastic base camp for your mountain visit. They offer a small store on site for any items you need to restock (or forgot), as well as a full-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
On our recent stay there we especially enjoyed the wings, they come with a wide selection of flavors, although we enjoyed the traditional buffalo best. The onion rings were also FIRE! The lodge offers ATV rentals in the summertime and fall as well as snowmobile rentals throughout the winter. They are a fantastic option for those looking to explore the Snowy Range throughout the year, whether that’s exploring the vast network of trails year-round, or some off trail fun in the winter. The main building has hotel rooms for easy and convenient stays. They also have cabins that can make for a fantastic getaway for larger parties. Their cabins feature full kitchens with a stove top, oven and refrigerator, as well as options designed to sleep up to six. We highly recommend checking them out and staying with them on your next visit to Laramie.
Hiking in the Snowy Range is a popular way to enjoy the mountain landscapes and the many lakes that it has to offer. One of the most iconic of those is to hike Medicine Bow, the highest peak in the Snowy Range at 12,000 feet above sea level. The hike starts down at the lakes, looking up at the massive cliff walls of rock towering above. Our favorite way to hike it is counterclockwise, although this is the opposite direction that is commonly hiked and recommended. We started at Lake Marie and enjoyed hiking around the three lakes to start our day before beginning the steep ascent (biggest gain of the day). One of our favorite parts about hiking this direction is that you end up a lot closer to Medicine Bow Peak, earlier in the day. We have found that when you hike clockwise, you climb the ridge from the southwest side and have three other mountain peaks before you reach Medicine Bow.
This can make the hike feel long and drawn out, as each time you summit a ridge and see the peak ahead, you think you’re just about there. The views along the way are absolutely stunning, with the alpine Lakes, the towering granite peaks, and the view of the mountains and meadows as you walk along the top of the mountain ridge. We recommend starting early; we especially enjoy sunrise. There was little to no shade on the hike, since once you begin your ascent of the mountain, you are above tree line and will spend many miles at that elevation. There is also no water on top of the mountain to purify or refill your bottles, so make sure you pack enough for the day. The total length of the loop for this hike is about 7 miles, and it’s considered a hard, strenuous hike with the high elevation and rocky terrain.
It generally takes 4 to 6 hours to complete, so make sure you bring snacks to fuel your adventure. Our pro tip on this hike is to start at Lake Marie counterclockwise, beginning your hike just before first light so you come around the lakes and look back towards the meadow at sunrise. You can take in the rising sun and alpenglow on the peaks reflected on the lakes. It can make for some stunning photos and memories. On our last hike, we got lucky enough to have the moon still high in the sky over the peaks as the sunrise developed and made for a truly magical scene. If a hike of this size feels like too much to take on, consider shortening and going for a walk on the lower section of this trail around the lakes and enjoying the magical views of Medicine Bow.
One of our other favorite activities to do when visiting this area is to do a self-led Rocky Mountain animal safari, trying to see how many of the local animals we can spot. Generally, early in the day near sunrise or late in the afternoon before sunset will be your peak time to see animals coming out, feeding, and spending more time in the open. On our recent trip, we were lucky enough to spot elk, deer, porcupine, foxes, moose, coyotes, as well as a wide variety of birds. We enjoy finding them while driving the mini trails and roads around Centennial and Albany. Make sure to have super watchful eyes, as they can be spotted just about anywhere, like moose grazing or drinking along the creeks and ponds, elk in the grassy meadows - sometimes just a lone bull or two, while other times in large herds. Bring binoculars for a closer look or a camera to capture the memories of all these beautiful creatures. Make sure you give them lots of space as you observe them and enjoy their company, as they are wild animals and should be respected and given room to go about their activities without interference. This can be a wonderful activity with children or in a group to see who has the sharpest eyes and can spot the most animals.
As we approach fall, the mountains become even more magical as the light softens and the leaves begin to change. The scene becomes one filled with color, and the long hot days of summer begin to turn into the crisp, cool fall days that remind us winter is on its way. The hills become alive with elk bugles as the bulls seek herds and battle with one another to establish dominance. Large summer crowds begin to thin, and you find yourself having a more private experience as you enjoy the mountains. Whether it is a weekend trip to the Trailshead Lodge immersed in nature, or something more low-key with a downtown stay, enjoying Downtown Laramie paired with a day trip to the mountains on your next trip to visit this wonderful area will have you realize why the locals refer to it as Laradise.
