![medbow mosaic](local-resources/images/lookwinfire.gif)
Welcome to Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland!
Visitor opportunities abound on the 2,883,943 acres of
Forests and Grassland.
The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests extend from north central
Colorado to central Wyoming. The Forests encompass portions of many
mountain ranges including the Gore Range, Flat Tops, Parks Range,
Medicine Bow Mountains, Sierra Madre, and Laramie Range. The Forests
provide year-round recreation opportunities for thousands of people.
They also provide wildlife habitat, timber, forage for livestock,
and are a vital source of water for irrigation, domestic use, and
industry.
The topography varies greatly within the Forests due to the large
geographic area encompassed. Elevations range from 5,500 feet to
12,940 feet. The climate of the Forests ranges from semi-arid at
low elevations to cold and humid in the high country. Frost may
occur at any time, and visitors to the higher elevations should
be prepared for harsh weather, including snow and high winds, even
during the summer months. Different districts administer different
areas of each forest. References to these districts appear on a
map and in sections of this guide. For more information, please
contact us.
The Thunder Basin National Grassland is located in northeastern
Wyoming in the Powder River Basin between the Big Horn Mountains
and the Black Hills. The Grassland ranges in elevation from 3,600
feet to 5,200 feet and the climate is semi-arid. The Grassland provides
unique opportunities for recreation, including hiking, sightseeing,
hunting, and fishing. There are no developed campgrounds; however,
camping is allowed. The Grassland abounds with wildlife year-round,
provides forage for livestock, and is underlain with vast mineral
resources. Land patterns are very complex because of the intermingled
federal, state, and private lands. The Douglas Ranger District administers
the Grassland.
There are 10 designated Wilderness Areas on the Forest, approximately
1360 developed sites, 2 ski areas (the Steamboat Springs Ski Area
has worldwide acclaim), 162 recreational homes with Forest Service
permits, and eight mountain lakes with developed boating facilities.
On the combined Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, downhill skiing
and general winter sports are the most popular activities, followed
by mechanized travel (including driving, OHV, boating, and bicycling),
camping and developed site uses, hunting, and then fishing.
|