INTRODUCTION

 

THIS SITE IS PRIMARILY INVOLVED WITH ROCK CLIMBING AT VEDAUWOO,

                                                     "Land of the Earthborn Spirit".  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 

 At an altitude of 8,000 feet, Vedauwoo is a rather secluded rocky oasis in southeastern Wyoming, filled with dense pine forests and aspPlmLine1.jpg (109979 bytes)en groves.  It is surrounded by a seemingly endless expanse of high plains and lies under a dome of intense cerulean blue sky.  Views from the tops of the crags are stunning, and one can see from Wyoming's ragged mountains clear down the Continental Divide to Long's Peak, some 75 miles south in Colorado.  A multitude of free-ranging animal species are commonly found here, including small mammals, antelope, moose, deer, cattle, climbers and an occasional black bear or cougar.  Today, climbers and others come here from nearly everywhere to indulge themselves within a setting of alien rock formations and scenic valleys foundHesiBlu2.jpg (64788 bytes) only at Vedauwoo.  This is 'high country' and wind is ever present, whether just a light breeze prowling through the aspen groves  or near hurricane force gales.  Storms of near bestial proportions are spawned in the SNOWY RANGE about 50 miles to the west and many times descend upon the valleys of Vedauwoo.  Should you decide to visit, you might want to check the weather prior to coming, especially in the spring or late fall.  There is a live cam at the Vedauwoo Exit as well as atmospheric sensors near Vedauwoo.  There is another live cam south of Cheyenne (if you're coming up from the Front Range).  In fact, no matter what the conditions or season, come prepared for CHANGE (*check this out!!) - it can occur in an instant!  So whatever you decide to do here, from aggressive sports like climbing, bouldering, biking or trail running, to more quiescent activities like attending the Vertical Dance Performance or just wandering around the back country engaging the flora and fauna, the promise is one of a unique and unforgettable experience.  There are more photos in the PHOTOGALLERY.  Additional information can be found on the Other Activities page.  Opening dates, road closures, etc. are found on the Current Events page and on the U.S. Forest Service website.

 T H E R E   I S   A W E S O M E    C L I M B I N G   H E R E !

WHERE:  Vedauwoo is located in southeastern Wyoming along Interstate I-80, about 30 miles west of Cheyenne and/or about 20 miles east of Laramie at Exit # 329.

WHEN:  The climbing season stretches from about Mid-April thru Mid-October.  Some push it past these limits, but 'windows of opportunity' become much less frequent outside these limits.  You might want to check out the Current Events Page for Gate Opening Dates, Pass Prices, etc.

You can check out the Terraserver Images for a cool satellite view of Greater Vedauwoo - keep clicking 'down' to get closer.  

Here is a GENERAL ORIENTATION MAP.  *PLEASE NOTE: This one is referred to throughout the site!

RoadMap.jpg (48532 bytes)

A = Central Vedauwoo,   B = Reynold's and Outback,  C = Lower Blair

D = Upper Blair,  700, 720, etc. =  USFS Road Designations 

 

.   .   .   .   .   G E T   I T   O N  ! !

YOU MIGHT WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF THIS ALLURING PLACE, VISIT THE VEDAUWOO MUSEUM, OR GO TO THE SITE MAP AND SEE HOW THE SITE IS ORGANIZED AND GO FROM THERE.

.  .  .  .  .  R E A L L Y ?    Y E S !

REMEMBER.... THE COWBOY SPIRIT PERVADES THIS PLACE.  THIS LAND BREEDS ADVENTUROUS PEOPLE WHO SOMETIMES IGNORE POTENTIAL RISKS ... BRUSHPOPPERS, SLIGHTLY UNSTABLE BUT READY FOR ANY CHALLENGE - WITH A RECKLESS PERSEVERANCE TO "HANG ON IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY OR GET BUCKED OFF".  SO DIG IN YOUR SPURS AND GET READY FOR A RIDE!!

.   .   .   .   .   W H A T 'S   T H I S   ? ?

 A NOVEL called "The Edge of Justice", written by Clinton McKinzie, centers around Vedauwoo!  Another more recent adventure novel called "BADWATER" uses well-known features of Vedauwoo (like the "big, bad wide crack 'Lucille") within the plot.  Check these out at his website.

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