Ultimate Guide to Laramie, Wyoming
- Elisa Wharton
- Apr 20, 2023
- 6 min read
Laramie is a small town with a big heart situated between two mountain ranges. Laramie has a lot to offer with a great downtown area and beautiful landscapes in all directions. This is a town for people who like to explore, enjoy the outdoors and want to experience the charm of a small western Town.
The Downtown
One of the things you will notice about Laramie is the active downtown area. There are so many great businesses and restaurants to explore. Some of my favorites are
Sweet Melissa A vegetarian/vegan restaurant with seasonal specials and a great bar. My favorites are the barbecue cauliflower wings and peanut butter pie.
Atmosphere Mountain Works Local business that makes all their products here in Laramie, Wy. They have a lot of different bags and clothes including, backpacks, lunchboxes, bags for bikes, travel bags and bags for hiking. Everything they make is unique and colorful.
Sugar mouse A family favorite in this household. This is a tea shop and cup-cakery. The store is so entirely adorable and decorated in light pink with tiny mice everywhere.
Pinebeach This is a local screen printing shop. They have the best local and Wyoming shirts and gear.
The downtown is home to the Laramie Mural project, which started in 2011. It showcases local artists by having them paint large scale murals scattered throughout the downtown. The murals really brighten up this historic western town.
The Laramie Greenbelt is just on the other side of the railroad tracks. It is 5.75 miles of paved trail that runs right beside the Little Laramie River. We like to go here to fish and catch crawdads in the river.
Pilot Hill Recreation Area is 85,000 acres of open land with 190 miles of crossing and connecting trails. It is also an important wildlife habitat conservation area. We have been going here to teach our son how to mountain bike safely. This is also the best place in town to catch a rainbow.
In the area
The Snowy Mountain Range
If you want to see the most beautiful mountains and alpine lakes outside of the Tetons you should visit the Snowy Mountain Range. It is 35 minutes west of Laramie on Wy 130. It is open seasonally from the end of May until anytime in October/November when the snow sets in. July- September is the best time to visit the Snowies. You will see an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife including marmots, moose, pica and sometimes black bears and mountain lions. The mountains start at 9,000 ft. with Medicine Bow Peak going all the way up to 12,031 ft.
The Snowies offer incredible hiking, picturesque landscapes, campgrounds, fishing and other outdoor activities. It is also one of the only places I know that has an accessible paved path around an alpine lake, making it easy for everyone to enjoy.
The most popular hike in the area is to Medicine Bow Peak. It is a moderate 3.2 mile out and back hike. You could also make it a 6.7 loop by connecting with the Lakes trail. The Snowies also have 17 campgrounds and 4 dispersed camping sites as well as 11 picnicking sites.
There are wonderful hikes at all of the pull outs along the mountain road. I recommend the trails on the lower half of the mountain in fall. You will be in awe of the colorful aspens that surround the trails and roads.
One of my favorite activities in the Snowies is to look for Moose. There are several spots we have come to know that have high moose activity, but also just driving around the many back roads have brought us the closest moose encounters.
Vedauwoo
Vedauwoo has a landscape that will enthrall you with the carefully balanced rocks and huge and unique shaped granite rock formations. The formations are made up of 1.4 billion year old Sherman granite, one of the oldest rock outcroppings in Wyoming. Vedauwoo is located 15 miles down 80 East from Laramie, Wy.
Turtle Rock trail is a perfect way to explore and get acquainted with the area. It is a 3.3 mile loop trail that is family friendly. The trail is mostly forested but also has views of the granite rock formations, beaver ponds and wildlife.There are other marked trails throughout but you can also just wander along the rocks and climb to your heart's content. Trail/hiking shoes are recommended for scampering among the rocks.
Camping at the Vedauwoo campground is $10 a night. It can support rigs up to 32 ft. The amenities vault toilets, fire rings, water and picnic tables. There are 28 spots available in the campground. If you are looking for more secluded camping you can drive down Vedauwoo Glen Road (service road 700) for free dispersed camping. There are 97 sites available for stays up to 16 days. These sites are usually available around the beginning of June and have a fire ring. The road to these campsites is not paved and can be hard to travel on especially after rain.
Vedauwoo is known for its incredible rock climbing.
Pole Mountain
Pole mountain consists of approximately 55,000 acres of land between Laramie and Cheyenne. Pole Mountain stands between 7500 and 9000 ft and consists of rolling hills, large rock formations, streams, lakes and prairie grasslands. Pole Mountain is a highly visited area for outdoor recreation including climbing, biking, hiking, fishing, camping, winter sports, off-road vehicle travel, and horseback riding. Pole Mountain also has many campground and BLM offerings both paid and free throughout the area. Contained within the Pole Mountain area is Vedauwoo, the Laramie Mountain Range, Tie City trailhead, Happy Jack recreation area, numerous streams and endless miles of open recreation area. The use of the area is free except at campgrounds, picnic areas and some trail heads. You can buy a day pass for $5 or opt for an annual pass which is available for $30 from the day you purchase for 365 days.
My favorite time of year is when all the wild lupines and Indian paintbrushes are in bloom in Pole Mountain.
The Plains Lakes
The Plains Lakes are 15 miles west of Laramie down Wy 230. The Plains Lakes consist of five lakes and reservoirs that include Hattie, Meeboer, Galett, Sodergreen and Twin Buttes. The Plains Lakes are known for their great fishing including brown and rainbow trout, perch and Kokanee salmon.
There is free camping along the shore that is first come first serve. This is the perfect place to come if you have a fisherman in the family.
Sand Creek National Natural Landmark
This lesser known area near Laramie is a bit harder to find than all of the other places mentioned before, but it is definitely worth the drive to get here. You will be transported to a land of red sandstone. It is a mini version of the landscape you see in southern Utah.
You will need to head South on 287 towards Colorado and take a right turn when you see the cement plant and stay on Sand Creek Road. Past Hutton Lake the road will angle to the left. The National Landscape begins one mile past the junction of Sportsman Lake Road. The state land begins just as you cross a cattle guard and see the sign “Chimney Rock Ranch” on the right. On the east of the road the public land extends a mile further east and ½ mile south from this corner.
There are no marked trails and much of the ground is covered in cryptobiotic crust. Many cryptobiotic soil crusts are able to absorb water more quickly than regular soils and as a result reduce runoff and also impede evaporation. They are extremely fragile and can take up to 100 years to repair, so watch where you walk and respect the land.
Other notable places to visit in Laramie
Laramie Geological Museum Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum showcases many large fossils including an Apatosaurus and Allosaurus. It is a great stop for anyone who enjoys learning about prehistoric animals from the Wyoming area.
University of Wyoming Art Museum The Art Museum is an awesome collection of art and objects by regional, national and international artists, and art from the American West.
Laramie Jubilee Days Every July Laramie hosts the Jubilee Days. You can experience rodeo events, carnival games and rides, live music and a parade through downtown.
Laramie Farmers Market Every Friday 3p.m.-7p.m. from June 30- September 29th local farmers and artisans come together downtown to sell fresh produce, baked goods, dairy and eggs, handcrafted wares and more.
Wyoming Territorial Prison This is the place if you are wanting to learn about History of the Wild West. For 30 years it held violent and notorious outlaws. The prison is open May- September 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. and October - April 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Wednesday- Saturday.
Final thoughts
Whether you have a day or a week you can find plenty of amazing things to do in Laramie, Wyoming. It is a great American Western town with an active community and breathtaking natural landscapes. Make sure to put this town on your list of places to visit when you come to Wyoming.
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