Snow Survey Cabin

BOX 249
SARATOGA, WY 82331

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.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Largest party: 4 people

Fees

$50/night, by reservation only.

Directions

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.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 11 AM.

Reviews

45 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

Kyle R

Loop:Snow Survey

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

We had a great stay at the Snow Survey Cabin. It's a beautiful area, easy to access with the highway nearby. Cozy little cabin with plenty of gear stocked for a rustic stay. The town of Saratoga is nearby, definitely recommend the hot springs as a break from the mountains.

Tyler S

Loop:Snow Survey

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Great stay. Thanks

Karen D

Loop:Snow Survey

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

The cabin came fully stocked with everything I needed for the Labor Day Weekend. The propane kitchen stove was easy to use, just light a match! The propane heater was also easy to use. The cabin was clean, the beds were comfortable. The vaulted toilet was not too far away. AND I was able to have a fire, in the fire ring, given it was only a Stage1 fireban. I recommend the cabin to anyone who wants to get away, just know there is no cell service (on T-Mobile).

Michael J

Loop:Snow Survey

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Well equipped and well insulated for a rustic cabin. Handy solar-powered lights and nice gas cook stove. We didn't use the heater. On the negative side, there was a loose piece of metal roofing that made a big racket when the wind blew. We told a ranger about it, and he said someone would come fix it. Meanwhile, the lower bunk beds have a very low cross bar that is hard to avoid with your head or back. Otherwise, the beds are OK. The only other issue for us was the highway. It's maybe 150 yards away and not visible below a banked slope, but there were a number of pretty loud vehicles going by all day, which keeps one from feeling like they're in the 'wilderness.' Also, there is a huge amount of (presumably) beetle-killed lodge pole pines all around the area. Tragic and fairly depressing, just fyi.

Michael M

Loop:Snow Survey

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Most everything was good, but we soon discovered that the outhouse was locked and since it was the weekend there was no one we could call. The only other issue was the flashing on the front peak of the roof was loose and rattled loudly when the wind blew. Everything else functioned fine.

Angie S

Loop:Snow Survey

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

The cabin was nice and had everything we needed. We did have different vehicles and campers drive through and stay each day and with the cabin being right on the only road going in it didn’t feel as isolated as expected. The solar lights were an awesome bonus!

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Popularity: Very quiet

Busiest in November, when about 4% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 4 years of reservations.