This Scenic Wyoming Byway Is A True Hidden Gem You Shouldn’t Miss

With so many awesome and beautiful natural attractions in Wyoming, sometimes the better-known spots get all the glory while overshadowing others. The Snowy Range Scenic Byway is an ideal example of an area that is often overlooked. Comparatively short in length, this I-80 bypass is closed almost half of the year. However, the sights you'll see along the way are breathtaking, making the trip worth every minute spent cutting across Medicine Bow National Forest and its spectacular mountain range.

The Snowy Range Scenic Byway is a picturesque slice of Wyoming wilderness in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

It's the scenic alternative route to I-80 that runs along WY-130 between Laramie and Saratoga.

The byway breezes through striking wide-open spaces...

...as well as winding up and over forested mountain passes.

It's called "Snowy Range" for a reason. The highest point on this scenic byway is over 10,800 feet, so it's common for snow drifts to be seen along the way, even during the summer months.

Snowfall usually closes WY-130 sometime during November each year, and the Snowy Range remains closed until late May when, just in time for Memorial Day weekend, road crews open the pass using snowplows.

If you drove straight through, it would take about an hour to traverse the Snowy Range Scenic Byway - but you'll want to stop to take in everything it has to offer.

Snow or no, the Snowy Range Scenic Byway is full of eye-catching scenery including mountain streams...

...lakes...

...Alpine meadows and hiking trails...

...that lead to breathtaking overlooks...

Libby Flats is at the summit of this scenic byway, providing an incomparable view of the area from 10,000 above sea level.

...and picture-perfect settings.

The Snowy Range Scenic Byway is an example of the best of Wyoming, making it a true hidden gem that shouldn't be missed.

What other must-see hidden gems have you found in Wyoming?