Things To Do

Fishing
The World Famous Miracle Mile. The North Platte River has a 104-mile stretch through Upper Platte Valley named as a blue-ribbon trout stream by Wyoming Game and Fish. Near Seminoe Reservoir lies a 7-mile stretch of river famous for huge trout and great fly fishing. This stretch of the North Platte River is called Miracle Mile. For those who love to fish, Miracle Mile is a little stretch of heaven.

Rafting
River fun abounds in Carbon County. The Encampment river boasts some of the best technical kayaking in the state, while the North Platte River is known for its white water and scenic float trips. Many river outfitters offer fishing packages along with scenic river rafting. The river is at its best for fishing and rafting in the months of June and July due to optimal water levels. In the Saratoga, Encampment and Riverside area there are 12 river access points on the North Platte offering rafters and boaters their choice of launch points. Carbon County is home to Northgate Canyon, a location for extreme white water adventure. There are also plenty of calmer stretched of river for boaters who prefer to take the scenic route. We suggest visitors who are unfamiliar with the rivers in Carbon County to seek out one of Carbon County’s many qualified guide service.

Snowmobiling
Carbon County Wyoming has some of the best snowmobiling offerings anywhere. Explore over 500 miles of groomed and ungroomed trails with terrain to please users with skill levels ranging from the novice to the expert. Snowmobiling occurs in primarily three recreational areas, each offering excellent trails and conditions.

Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing and Dog Sledding
Carbon County offers a wide variety of cross country ski trails. Beautiful trails exist for novice and advanced skiers. In addition to designated cross country ski trails, almost all snowmobile trails are also accessible to skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding. The communities in Carbon County offer wonderful lodging and dining facilities with true Western hospitality. Green Mountain Cabin and Jack Creek Ranger Station offer rustic family style accommodations in the Medicine Bow Forest or find hotels, cabins, bed and breakfasts, steak houses distinctive dining in any of our Carbon County cities and towns. After a hard day skiing enjoy a relaxing dip in the Hot Springs at Saratoga to loosen those tight muscles.

Scenic Drives

Drive through the mountains and prairies of Carbon County, Wyoming to observe our bountiful wildlife and breath taking scenery. Wyoming is home to some of the best kept secrets in the natural world. Whether you’re exploring the great Continental Divide, high mountain deserts or vast prairie lands, Wyoming’s scenery will not disappoint. Keep your eyes open and you may catch a glimpse of Wyoming’s native wildlife species including foxes, coyotes, deer, antelope, moose, elk, bald eagles, badger and more. Please be aware that in the winter many of our scenic roads close due to high snowfall.

The Seminoe-Alcova Back Country Byway
The Seminoe-Alcova Back Country Byway is located in South Central Wyoming. The north end of the byway is in Alcova, a small settlement on WY 220 about 30 miles southwest of Casper, and the south end is in the small oil town of Sinclair, near Rawlins. Here at the junction of WY 220 and Natrona County Road 603/407, the 73-mile route passes through antelope-grazed prairie and stark desert, and climbs over the rugged Seminoe Mountains. The route has special attractions which include: the Alcova Reservoir, popular for fishing and boating; Pathfinder Reservior, a favorite of windsurfers; Fremont Canyon, known for fishing, rock climbing, and popular with experienced river-runners; Seminoe Reservoir, the Seminoe Mountains, the Pedro Mountains, and Seminoe State Park. The road is in a remote area, but provides amazing landscape transformations while traversing through the Seminoe Mountains, the Pedro Mountains, and Fremont Canyon, that are worth making the back-country journey to view.

Snowy Range Scenic Byway
Snowy Range Scenic Byway follows Highway 130 for twenty-nine miles through the center of Medicine Bow National Forest. A high-altitude drive, it offers you an unforgettable introduction to the mountainous West as it winds through the Rocky Mountains. Here, you'll embark on an extended adventure that encompasses three primary points of interest. Explore Medicine Bow National Forest, which encompasses parts of the Laramie, Medicine Bow, and Sierra Madre mountain ranges. A mild climate and sunny skies dominate summer months, creating an ideal setting for outdoor fun. Explore the thick forests by hiking, horseback riding, or mountain biking. Go fishing in one of many alpine lakes and streams filled with trout. In the winter, you'll find yourself in a snowy solitude. Well-marked trails and hundreds of inches of powdery snow entice you to hit the slopes. Stride cross-country or zoom on a snowmobile across 300 miles of trails and wide snowy fields in this region. Thick, iced-over lakes provide ice skating or ice fishing.

The Outlaw Trail Loop
From Rawlins motorists enter outlaw country near Creston Junction. The Wild Bunch robbed a train at Tipton Highway 789 south through Baggs to Browns Park, Colorado parallels the “getaway trail.” In the scenic Little Snake River Valley, Savery is home to the fine Little Snake River Museum. Up on Battle Pass, travelers can pass through Aspen Alley, one of the region’s most remarkable stand of tall, waving aspen trees. The Sierra Madre country is rich in beauty, mining and trapping history. Encampment has another fine museum, the Grand Encampment Museum and Mining Town. The loop ends with a drive through ranching country to Saratoga, with its quaint downtown, the Hobo hot springs and outstanding fishing and floating on the North Platte River.

Battle Highway
The Battle Highway along Wyoming’s Highway 70 stretches across the Sierra Madre Mountains from Encampment to Baggs. The scenic highway is open Memorial Day through October. Historic sites along the way include Battle ghost town and the Edison Monument commemorating the place where, while fishing on Battle Lake, Thomas Edison got the idea for the first light-bulb filament. Battle Pass, on the Continental Divide, provides a sweeping view of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Traffic on the highway is light and wide shoulders make this an excellent bicycle route as well.

Hot Springs

The quiet and picturesque resort town of Saratoga, Wyoming holds a true Carbon County gem; Hobo Hot Springs. Much of the history of Saratoga revolves around the world famous mineral hot springs and thermal waters. Native Americans would come and soak in the hot springs which were considered neutral territory. Eventually a bath house was built as more and more visitors began coming to the Platte Valley. The same waters that brought the first settlers into the fertile North Platte River Valley still attract tired travelers and natives alike. Free and open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Saratoga Hot Pool is the ultimate for healthy relaxation with water temperatures ranging from 101 to 110 degrees. The Lobster Pot at one end of Hobo Pool is a steamy 120 degrees. Recent improvements to the hot pool have made it safer and more enjoyable for the entire family. Restrooms and changing facilities are available on-site. Find this natural treasure in Saratoga’s City Park on Walnut Street. Behind Hobo hot springs, are several thermal seeps on the banks of the North Platte River; primitive rock formations trap runoff from the Hobo Pool and these thermal seeps creating hot pools by the banks of the North Platte River.

Hobo Hot Springs Is Open 24 Hours A Day 7 Days A Week FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Come for some healthy relaxation!

Events

For more information on events in Carbon County, Wyoming, click here.