Hiking Lakes Trail

Well, I left Wyoming with a bang!  I couldn’t be happier with my final hike of the summer.  Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is a hidden gem! I can’t believe I overlooked this place when I lived only 3 hours away in Denver.  The Lakes Trail is fantastic.

Towns Near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest

The biggest city closest to Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is Laramie, Wyoming, approximately 45 miles east.  Fort Collins, Colorado is about 1.5 hours southeast and Denver 3 hours.  As a result, day trips are good options, though camping along with mountain cabins dot WY-130.

Additionally, two very small towns flank both side of the forest, Saratoga to the west and Centennial to the east.  Centennial is equipped with a small general store and a restaurant.  Saratoga is much bigger.  It has a gas station, some restaurants, hot springs, a museum, a grocery store, and a nice dog park. 

HAPPY HIKING!
lost twin lakes

Mirror Lake and Lost Twin Lakes

How to Get to Mirror Lake and Lost Twin Lakes

Mirror Lake and Lost Twin Lakes are located in the Cloud Peak Wilderness portion of the Big Horn National Forest near Buffalo, Wyoming.  The lakes are accessed via Trail #65 from the West Tensleep Trailhead.

There is a large dirt parking lot, pit toilets, and a few picnic tables at the trailhead located at the end of West Tensleep Road.  West Tensleep Road is a very popular camping area.  Free, designated sites line the road and are available on a first come first served basis.  There are also a few basic campgrounds.

So far, the hike to Mirror Lake and Lost Twin Lakes has been my favorite of the season.  It definitely earns FIVE STARS on AllTrails.  Somehow, I doubt it will be topped, but I have many more hikes in Wyoming to complete.

HAPPY HIKING!
yosemite valley

Day 162 – Yosemite and Beyond – Part 3

Day 162 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Wow, what a day!  A cool front, light rain or perhaps mist, and low clouds blew into the valley.  I crossed my fingers and hoped the overcast skies would offer some good photo opportunities and not interfere with my sightseeing for the day.  It was amazing how different the park looked with just a change of weather.  Yesterday, El Capitan was gleaming in the sunlight, today it was barely poking up above the clouds.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!