Access Update - All Pole Mountain roads are open

(LARAMIE, Wyo.) – All National Forest System roads on the Pole Mountain unit of the Medicine Bow National Forest are now open for public motorized travel. Roads began opening in stages this past week with public safety and natural resource sustainability taken into consideration.

Two developed campgrounds on the Pole Mountain unit, Vedauwoo, and Yellow Pine, are also open, in addition to designated dispersed camp sites along the 700 Road (Vedauwoo Road).

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service personnel recently completed culvert installation at multiple locations, seasonal road maintenance, cheatgrass spraying, and prescribed fire preparation. The completion of those projects, along with dry ground conditions, allowed the Laramie Ranger District to assess public resources and declare all roads on the unit suitable for motorized use. 

The Forest Service would like to stress that even as roads reopen, motorized users must stay on designated routes and may not travel off-road. Those traveling through the National Forest should pay attention to signage and refer to the Pole Mountain Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for details. MVUMs are free and available online.

Pole Mountain visitors are reminded that along the 700 Road (Vedauwoo Road) and all its’ spur roads, dispersed camping is only allowed in designated locations. Additionally, annual shooting restrictions are in effect across the entire Pole Mountain unit. The seasonal shooting restrictions prohibit the discharge of firearms from March 31 - Sept. 10.

Off-road or shooting violations can be reported at (307) 745-2392.

Public should be aware of the possibility of blowdown trees on Pole Mountain trails. Forest Service staff will work to safely clear trails as time/resources allow.

Seasonal road closures on Pole Mountain are established and annual. Gates are closed Feb. 1 each year to protect roadbeds and natural resources from misuse and illegal off-roading, which has previously resulted in long-term damage. The determination to seasonally close roads on Pole Mountain during snowmelt and/or wet conditions is a result of the 2017 Pole Mountain Travel Management project decision.

Located north of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne, the Pole Mountain unit encompasses approximately 55,000 acres on the Medicine Bow National Forest. The area experiences heavy year-round usage from the Laramie, Cheyenne, and Fort Collins areas.

For more information, contact the Laramie Ranger District at (307) 745-2300 or visit our website. Additional resources are available on social media: @FS_MBRTB on X or @FSMBRTB on Facebook.