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The Wyoming Range runs for about eighty miles in a north-south direction in western Wyoming. These mountains are a mixture of rolling open slopes dotted with sagebrush and aspen groves and forested hills with pines, spruce, and fir trees. Waterfalls plunging over high cliffs are tucked in the remote rugged mountain peaks. Many of the peaks in the range rise to over 10,000 feet the highest is Wyoming Peak at 11,363 feet. These magnificent mountains remain in relative obscurity due to their proximity to the more famous Wind River Mountains and the Grand Tetons; this makes solitude more achievable here. The Wyoming Range is not as rugged or remote as the nearby Wind River Range or Gros Ventre Mountains.
Wyoming Peak is the highpoint of the Wyoming Range. The mountain is located about 30 miles west of Big Piney. Other high peaks in the range include the 11,242' Mount Coffin, the 10,864' Hoback Peak, and the 10,780' Mount McDougal. However, despite its prominent stature, Wyoming Peak appears to be a relatively unknown mountain overshadowed by more prominent mountains in the nearby Wind River and Teton Ranges, Wyoming Peak gets little respect. It's off the beaten path, and exists in relative obscurity in the heart of the Wyoming Range. Even many of the locals have never even heard of it, however, for those willing to venture off the beaten path, Wyoming Peak is a great climb.
The Wyoming RangeĦs roadless areas are hidden treasures
of Wyoming's backcountry. Grayback Ridge and South Wyoming Range Roadless
Areas embrace a long chain of sedimentary peaks crowned by brilliant red
summits on the western edge of the Upper Green River Valley. The Wyoming
Range National Recreation Trail traverses the spine of the roadless areas
from north to south, offering awesome backcountry opportunities. Grassy meadows
interspersed with groves of whitebark pine and sparkling streams provide
habitat for rare wildlife like wolverine, lynx, and cutthroat trout. Visitors
to the Wyoming Range enjoy outstanding hiking, hunting, horseback riding
and wildlife viewing in one of the wildest and most remote mountain ranges
in the west.
Many backcountry-hiking trails traverse these mountains, including the Wyoming Range National Recreation Trail. Trails are open to hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. These trails traverse remote, primitive country, and in some places trails may be hard to find. Roads usually are snow free from mid July until mid October. During the winter, roads serve as a network of snowmobile trails.
 The high alpine meadows have prolific wild flower displays in the summer months starting with the balsamroot in early June. Many Meadows contain little grass, but many tall perennials such as cow parsnip, penstemon, lupine, monkshood, and western coneflower. These plants grow so tall that they obscure lightly used trails by mid summer.
The Wyoming Range is home to elk, moose, deer, antelope, grizzly and black bear, mountain lions, lynx, and many other species of wildlife. While grizzly bears do not currently occupy the Wyoming Range they do wander in occasionally, a grizzly bear was mistakenly killed near the allotments by an animal damage control agent in 2002. Moreover, leading grizzly experts agree that the Wyoming Range contains high-quality grizzly habitat, and they believe that bears will reoccupy this area if domestic sheep are removed. Grizzly bears should be discouraged from inhabiting the Wyoming, Salt River and southern Wind River ranges, state wildlife officials recommended.
The hunting in the Wyoming Range for elk, mule deer and rocky mountain bighorn sheep is hard to beat. If you are unfamiliar with the area you may want to hire a guide and there are many to be found in the region. The Wyoming Range has long been noted for its trophy mule deer.
As
a major source of the mighty Snake River Blue ribbon trout fishing is to
be found throughout the range. The rangeĦs many tributaries are spawning areas
for the Snake River trout but many trout make these tributaries their year
around homes.
The regions numerous lakes also provide great fishing.
There are many opportunities for dispersed camping throughout the Wyoming Range with scenic views and room to play. There are a number of developed campgrounds with restrooms and picnic tables in scenic locations as well as countless privative camping spots.
Expect summer time temperatures to range from highs in
the 70s-80s during the day to lows of around 30 at night. Afternoon thunderstorms
with lightning and rain showers are common in the summer. It can snow any
day of the year and has, so visitors should come prepared for a wide variety
of weather and temperature conditions. Remember MurphyĦs Law and pack accordingly.
The Wyoming Range can be accessed from the west, east and north sides. Commercial
services are available in the small towns of Daniel, Big Piney, Marbleton,
LaBarge and Kemmerer are located on the east side of the mountains along US
Highway 189. These are not large towns, but you'll be able to find gas, food
and lodging. On the northern end, Bondurant and Hoback Junction are along US
Hwy 191.on the perimeter, but none are available within the range. Get your
gas and food in town, and be sure to have a full tank of gas and a good spare
tire along.
Backcountry visitors are asked to practice Low Impact Camping to protect the pristine values of the wilderness area. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept under control at all times.
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