Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest sits on approximately 2.2 million acres of land that is located in south-central and southeastern Wyoming. One of the closest cities to the forest is Cheyenne, the capital city of Wyoming. Other cities close to the protected forest land include Encampment, Casper, and Laramie. 

The forests are accessible through several roads some of which include US 40, and CO 125 used to access the areas of the forest that are in the north-central Colorado area. Other areas of the forest can be accessed using US 30, US 287, WY 130 and WY 230. The forest was designated as a national forest on May 22, 1902, and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. 

The protected forest areas have several unique and fascinating features that will surely draw the attention of any nature lover. Some of the more popular attractions include geological formations like Turtle Rock, Vedauwoo Glen, LaBonte Canyon, and Devil's Playground. 

You can use the Black Mountain lookout station to view most of the scenic attractions from afar including portions of the Sierra Madre, Medicine Bow Mountains, and Laramie Range that the forest land encompasses. Besides these natural attractions, the forest is also home to a historical landmark, Rabbit Ears Pass, that was used by early pioneers. 

Furthermore, the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest has several other man-made amenities, some of which include 58 campgrounds, a visitor center, 14 rental cabins and stations, boat ramps, dispersed camping, picnic areas, scenic drives, ski areas, and lookout towers. 

These facilities can be used to enjoy recreational activities like fishing, camping, hiking, rafting, ORV riding, hunting, boating, mountain biking, snowmobiling, water skiing, cross-country and downhill skiing, and rock climbing. Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is also attractive to dog owners since access to the forest is permitted as long as forest rules are obeyed. 

Some basic forest rules regarding dogs are as follows. First, no dog is allowed to run loose in the forest land. In fact, all dogs should always remain leashed or in a secure enclosure. Additionally, dog owners are expected to keep their dogs away from areas of the park that are not considered to be dog-friendly. These areas are meant to protect the forest's resources.