Medicine Bow Peak
| Medicine Bow Peak | |
|---|---|
Southern extent of Medicine Bow Peak rising above Lake Marie. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 12,018 ft (3,663 m) |
| Prominence | 3233 |
| Coordinates | 41°21′35.99″N 106°19′11.99″W / 41.3599972°N 106.3199972°W |
| Geography | |
| Location | Albany and Carbon counties, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Parent range | Medicine Bow Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Medicine Bow Peak (WY) |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | quartzite |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Medicine Bow Peak (12,018 ft (3,663 m)) is the highest peak in the Snowy Range, a subrange of the Medicine Bow Mountains, about 35 miles (56 km) west of Laramie, Wyoming. It lies within Medicine Bow National Forest and is the highest point in southern Wyoming. The mountain peak lies in extreme western Albany County, but the lower reaches stretch westward into eastern Carbon County. The summit is visible from Snowy Range Pass (10,847 ft (3,300 m)) on Wyoming Highway 130, a Wyoming Scenic Byway. The most-common route to the summit is a four-mile hike featuring switch-backs and a great deal of loose rock; trails to the peak are usually open from early June to mid October.
The mountain is usually covered with snow from October to late June. During winter, the peak can be summited by snowshoeing or skiing. Summer conditions can be extreme, with frequent thunderstorms and hail during the afternoons.