Pole Mountain ORV Area
Pole Mountain OHV Area encompasses approximately 55,000 acres of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in Albany County, Wyoming, positioned directly off Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne at the Happy Jack Recreation Area exit. The I-80 corridor location makes Pole Mountain one of the most highway-accessible national forest OHV systems on the entire Front Range: riders from Denver, Fort Collins, Cheyenne, and Laramie can reach primary trailheads with minimal driving. The terrain is high-altitude Wyoming: large Sherman granite outcrops, rolling pine forest, open meadows, and wind-exposed ridgelines at elevations from 7,000 to 9,000 feet. Over 150 miles of designated ORV roads and trails crisscross the area, ranging from maintained forest roads accessible to most high-clearance vehicles to technical single-track and off-road routes. The area sees heavy recreational use from both Cheyenne and Laramie markets and is one of the more actively maintained OHV areas in the Medicine Bow district. A Wyoming ORV permit is required. Camping is available at several developed sites within the Happy Jack Recreation Area complex. The elevation and Wyoming latitude mean riding season peaks from June through September; early and late season snow is common.