Adventure Outdoors Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 170

BHP Images LARAMIE, WY ESCAPE THE CROWDS and Take a Hike in Laramie! alpine lakes, high peaks, and brilliant wildflowers await the intrepid hiker just outside of Laramie. The Snowy range mountains offer rugged scenery while Vedauwoo features wild granite formations. Just 27 miles west of Laramie at the foot of the rocky mountains, lies the historic mining town of Centen- nial, the gateway to The Snowy range, which fea- tures many hikes and climbs. medicine Bow Peak is the highest point in southern Wyoming and a chal- lenging four-mile trail leads to the 12,013-foot summit. Libby Creek Trail and Lakes Trail are popular hikes for both visitors and locals. The region near medicine Bow Peak is home to the rocky mountain bighorn sheep, yellow-bellied mar- mots, pikas and blue grouse. The many mountain lakes and streams in the area are home to rainbow trout, brook trout, and Wyoming’s only native trout, the cutthroat. The Scenic Bywa y takes travelers from sagebrush prairies to a high-altitude alpine environ- ment including all of the major life zones in the rocky mountains. Wild granite formations along with pine and aspen groves provide a haven for hikers and trail runners in the Vedauwoo area, a twenty minute drive southeast of Laramie. many trails permit travel by horseback, which can ease the burden of a multi-day expedition. Slick ver- tical paths reach the summits of Vedauwoo, (pro- nounced Vee-da-voo) while gentler trails meander in the forest. Photo by Brian Guice