Snow Survey Cabin

Overview

The Snow Survey Cabin provides visitors with a rustic accommodation on the Snowy Range. The cabin, located just off the Snowy Range Scenic Byway at nearly 10,000 feet elevation is available for rent year round. This is an excellent cabin to enjoy everything from warm summer evenings to winter snowmachining or cross country skiing. The one room cabin can accommodate up to four people on two sets of bunk beds. There is a propane cook stove/heater, and solar lights. West access to the cabin during the winter months is one mile from the upper "chains end" gate. A lower closure gate is six miles from the cabin. Winter renters access the cabin via snowmachine, skis, or snowshoes. There is no indoor plumbing, a vault toilet is located outside. Plan to bring water with you. Basic cooking and eating utensils, plates, knives, forks, spoons, cups, and basic pots and pans are furnished. If you use these items, they need to be cleaned and put away after use. The garbage is pack in, pack out. Recreational opportunities accessible from the cabin are almost unlimited. In summer months a vast hiking trail system that accesses the highest elevations of the Snowy Range including Medicine Bow Peak is nearby. Beginning in late spring, fishing is available at many alpine lakes and streams including the very popular Mirror Lake Day use site. Winter brings deep snow for the snowmachiner or cross country skier.

Recreation

In the summer months, a vast hiking trail system accessing the highest elevations of the Snowy Range extends from the cabin's back door. Hikers looking for a challenge can make the trek up Medicine Bow Peak at an elevation of 12,013 feet, or hike nearby Browns Peak or Sugarloaf Mountain.   

Fishing is available at many alpine lakes and streams, including the popular Mirror Lake day use site.   

Winter brings deep powder snow for the snowmobiler and cross-country skier.

Lake and Pond Fishing

Areas for Lake and Pond Fishing at Snowy Range Area

• Bow River Campground
• Brooklyn Lake Campground
• Deep Creek Campground
• Deep Lake Trail
• Dipper Lake Trail
• Lake Owen Boat Ramp
• Lake Owen Campground
• Lakes Trailhead
• Lewis Lake Picnic Site
• Libby Lake Picnic Site
• Little Brooklyn Guard Station
• Miller Lake Dispersed Campground
• Mirror Lake Picnic & Fishing Site
• Quealy Lake Trailhead
• Rob Roy Boat Ramp
• Rob Roy Campground
• Sheep Lake Trailhead
• Silver Lake Campground
• Silver Lake Trailhead
• Snow Survey Cabin
• Sugarloaf Campground
• West Lake Marie

River and Stream Fishing

Areas for River and Stream Fishing at Snowy Range Area

• Bow River Campground
• Deep Creek Campground
• French Creek Campground
• French Creek Canyon Trail
• Libby Creek Aspen Campground
• Libby Creek Fir Picnic Site
• Libby Creek Pine Campground
• Libby Creek Spruce Campground
• Libby Creek Willow Campground
• Lincoln Park Campground
• Nash Fork Campground
• North Fork Campground
• Platte River Wilderness
• Rock Creek Trailhead
• Routt Access Parking Lot
• Routt Access Trailhead
• Ryan Park Campground
• Savage Run Wilderness
• Six Mile Campground
• Six Mile Trailhead
• Tie Hack Lower Trailhead
• Tie Hack Upper Trailhead

Mountain Biking

Areas for Mountain Biking at Snowy Range Area

• Bow River Campground
• Deep Creek Campground
• French Creek Campground
• French Creek Canyon Trail
• Keystone Cabins
• Lake Owen Trailhead
• Little Brooklyn Guard Station
• Little Laramie Trailhead
• North Fork Campground
• Pinkham Mountain Trailhead
• Rock Creek Trailhead
• Sheep Lake Trailhead
• Snow Survey Cabin
• Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout
• Tie Hack Lower Trailhead
• Tie Hack Upper Trailhead
• Tipple Trail Trailhead

Mountain Climbing

Areas for Mountain Climbing at Snowy Range Area

• Lewis Lake Picnic Site
• Libby Lake Picnic Site

Day Hiking

Areas for Day Hiking at Snowy Range Area

• Brooklyn Lake Campground
• Brush Creek Trails
• Chimney Park Trailhead
• Corner Mountain Trailhead
• Crater Lake Trailhead
• Deep Creek Campground
• Deep Lake Trail
• Dipper Lake Trail
• French Creek Campground
• French Creek Canyon Trail
• Green Rock Parking Lot
• Green Rock Picnic Site
• Keystone Cabins
• Lake Owen Trailhead
• Lakes Trailhead
• Lewis Lake Picnic Site
• Libby Lake Picnic Site
• Little Brooklyn Guard Station
• Little Laramie Trailhead
• Meadow Falls Trailhead
• Miner's Cabin Trailhead
• North Fork Campground
• Platte River Wilderness
• Quealy Lake Trailhead
• Rock Creek Trailhead
• Routt Access Trailhead
• Ryan Park Campground
• Savage Run Wilderness
• Sheep Lake Trailhead
• Silver Lake Campground
• Silver Lake Trailhead
• Six Mile Trailhead
• Snow Survey Cabin
• South Brush Creek Campground
• Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout
• Sugarloaf Campground
• Tie Hack Lower Trailhead
• Tie Hack Upper Trailhead
• Tipple Trail Trailhead
• West Lake Marie

Backpacking

Areas for Backpacking at Snowy Range Area

• Crater Lake Trailhead
• Deep Lake Trail
• Dipper Lake Trail
• Lakes Trailhead
• Lewis Lake Picnic Site
• Libby Lake Picnic Site
• Platte River Wilderness
• Quealy Lake Trailhead
• Rock Creek Trailhead
• Savage Run Wilderness
• Sheep Lake Trailhead
• Six Mile Trailhead

Viewing Wildlife

Areas for Viewing Wildlife at Snowy Range Area

• Brooklyn Lake Campground
• Keystone Cabins
• Libby Flats Observation Site
• Little Brooklyn Guard Station
• Snow Survey Cabin
• Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout
• Tipple Trail Trailhead

Facilities

The one-room cabin is furnished with two sets of bunk beds and can accommodate up to four people. The cabin is equipped with a propane cook stove, heater, solar lights, table and chairs, cookware, and basic cooking and eating utensils. An outhouse with vault toilet is located nearby. No running water is available at the cabin. Guests must bring their own supply of water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Snow for melting is usually available in winter. Guests need to provide their own food, sleeping bags, lanterns or flashlights, pillows, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. All trash and food must be packed out, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving. No pets are allowed within the building. Pets must be on leash or lead outside to protect wildlife. Pet must be cleaned up after by owner.

Natural Features

From valleys and canyons that rise steeply to jagged ridges, the Snowy Range boasts alpine lakes, wildflower meadows and a mixed forest of spruce, lodgepole pine, subalpine fir and aspen. At elevations of 9,000 to 12,000 feet, it lives up to its name, as snow can fall in the area during any month of the year.

Wildlife viewing is abundant near the cabin, including elk, deer and moose. Migratory birds, squirrels and an occasional black bear find habitat in the forest as well.

Nearby Attractions

The Snowy Range is transected by Wyoming Highway 130 between Laramie and Saratoga. This is the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. Many campgrounds, picnic areas and hiking trails are located along its course. The small Snowy Range Ski Resort is accessible from this scenic byway as well; however, portions of Highway 130 are not completely accessible during the winter.

From Saratoga, travel south on Highway 130 for 8 miles to the Highway130/230 junction. Turn left (east) on Highway 130 and drive 20 miles to Forest Service Road 257 (also known as Snowstorm Road). Turn onto Forest Service Road 257 and continue for approximately 100 yards to the cabin.

Highway 130 closes at the winter closure gate 6 miles west of Forest Service Road 257. There is a large parking area at the winter closure gate available for use called the Ryan Park Snowmobile Parking Area. Winter access requires parking at the 'chains end' closure gate and using a snowmobile, skis or snowshoes to reach the cabin.

Access to the cabin during the winter months can be either six miles from the lower 'chains end' gate at the Ryan Park Snowmobile Parking Area on the west side of the Snowy Range or 1 mile beyond the upper "chains end" gate. The Wyoming Highway Department determines which closure gate will be open or closed.