Continental Divide Road (Forest Road 801)

The Continental Divide Road climbs through aspen groves and into the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest’s high country, tracing the actual divide line for miles above treeline. You’ll cross Snowy Range Pass at 10,847 feet, then continue along Forest Road 801 as it winds past Mirror Lake and Lake Marie, where the reflection of Medicine Bow Peak creates one of Wyoming’s most photographed scenes. The route connects with several alpine lake access points and mining remnants from the 1800s copper boom.

This is a moderate high-clearance route that becomes impassable with snow from October through June. Stock SUVs handle it fine in summer, though afternoon thunderstorms can make the exposed ridgeline sections sketchy. You’ll need to fuel up in Centennial or Laramie before heading up—there’s nothing but wilderness for 30 miles. The payoff is some of the most accessible alpine country in Wyoming, with dispersed camping at several lakes and trailheads for Medicine Bow Peak.