Great Escapes Winter 2023 | Page 17

Carbon County

Located high atop the Continental Divide just west of Laramie in south-central Wyoming , Carbon County has everything necessary for a truly awesome snowmobile vacation . Come discover it for yourself this winter .

Easily accessible on Interstate 80 , Carbon County welcomes snow-season visitors with a wide variety of guest ranches , resorts , inns and lodges , some of them award-winning establishments , and many with direct access to the area ’ s trails . Some feature unique attractions right on the premises , like the Snowy Mountain micro-brewery at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort . And all offer excellent dining to keep you going for many hours of fun out on the big snow .

Three distinct snowmobiling areas with more than 500 miles of trails

provide access to vast amounts of superb backcountry riding in powder snow up to 12 feet deep . On the east side of the Continental Divide , the Snowy Range is the largest and most developed area , with more than 300 miles of trails to access the backcountry areas open to snowmobiling boondockers . Accessible from the cities of Saratoga , Riverside , Encampment and Elk Mountain , this area has a full complement of trail-side support services including lodging , dining and gas .

West of the Continental Divide , the Sierra Madres area offers another 110 miles of trails to access backcountry riding in deep powder , surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountain scenery available anywhere . Access is easy from Encampment on the east or Baggs on the west .

The Shirley Mountains of northern Carbon County offer extensive and wide open public land north of Hanna and Medicine Bow . Nearly 100 miles of ungroomed trails provide access to very remote off-trail riding surrounded by even more superb Rocky Mountain scenery .

Local outfitters can provide sleds , gear , guides , and pretty much anything else you might need . Or you can bring your own sled and gear and add the modestly priced state permit that is required to ride . Elevation varies between 6,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level , so make sure you have your sled tuned for best performance at these higher altitudes . And air temperatures can vary greatly during the day , so bring versatile riding gear for changing weather conditions .

After riding , over a dozen museums and historic sites showcase ranching , railroading , and western and military history . Then soothe your tired body with a relaxing dip in Hobo Hot Springs at Saratoga . It ’ s free , and never closes .

So discover Carbon County for yourself this winter , and enjoy the outstanding snowmobiling – and preand post-snowmobiling – experiencing everything it has to offer . Call 800 / 228-3547 or visit wyomingcarboncounty . com for a searchable directory of lodging for more details and assistance .