Chimney Rock Road to Vedauwoo — Wyoming High Plains Granite Spine via Pole Mountain
Granite domes and big Wyoming sky.
The Vedauwoo formation is one of Wyoming’s least-appreciated geological landmarks — jagged feldspar towers pushed up from Precambrian granite, rising abrupt and alien from the high plains at nearly 8,000 feet. The dirt and two-track network threading through Medicine Bow National Forest’s Pole Mountain unit connects Vedauwoo Campground east toward Chimney Rock and out to the open bench country above Laramie. You’ll pick your way through dispersed forest roads with loose granite embedded in the two-track, tight pine sections, and exposed ridgeline spurs where the wind will remind you where you are. The Rock Creek drainage crossing is the route’s low point and best campsite anchor.
Most of this terrain is high-clearance stock 4WD territory — no need for lockers unless the route is wet, in which case the clay-mix soils turn greasy fast. Snow is possible any month above 8,000 feet; the real window is mid-June through September. No permits needed for dispersed camping in the Pole Mountain unit, but check Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest road conditions before heading out. Cell service is essentially zero once you drop off I-80. Fuel in Laramie before you go — nothing out here. The payoff is stark, wide-open Wyoming in a state that doesn’t get crowded even in peak summer.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 8760 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Laramie, WY |
| Land manager | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Laramie Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Pole Mountain Unit Medicine Bow MVUM |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler handle this without any mods?
Yes. Stock 4WD with decent ground clearance gets through fine — this is rated moderate with dirt, gravel, and scattered granite rock sections, not technical ledges. Aired-down tires help on the rockier stretches near Vedauwoo but aren't mandatory.
When does this trail open and close each year?
June through September is your window. Snow can linger on the Pole Mountain divide past late May, and early fall storms can mud the dirt sections out fast. Don't push it before mid-June without checking current conditions with the Laramie Ranger District.
Do I need a permit to run this trail or camp out here?
No permit required to drive the trail. Dispersed camping on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is free and generally limited to 14 days in one spot — stay 300 feet from water, roads, and trails. Check the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) linked above to confirm which areas allow dispersed camping before you set up.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The approach into the Vedauwoo granite field is the roughest stretch — loose rock, embedded slabs, and some shelf road that demands attention. Nothing that should shake a competent moderate-trail driver, but it's not a fire road cruise either. Slow down and pick your lines.
There's zero cell service out here — how far is the nearest gas from the trailhead?
Laramie is your last stop for fuel, food, and water — roughly 20-25 miles from the Chimney Rock Road start. Top off the tank in town, carry extra water since the water crossings on trail are not reliable drinking sources without treatment, and plan like you're genuinely off the grid because you are.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.