Fox Creek Rd To Forbes/Sheep Mountain Wildlife Habitat

Flickr album link: Fox Creek Rd To Forbes/Sheep Mountain Wildlife Habitat

While camping near the Colorado Border, a day was planned for checking out the many wildlife areas surrounding Laramie, Wyoming. This region is where the mountains meet the high plains, so a diverse number of wild species can be encountered in this area. Better still, there are several mountain streams that feed beaver ponds and wildlife management area lakes where an entire day can be spent fishing and birding. There are a couple of national wildlife refuges to experience as well and the Laramie River is yet another fly fishing resource that attracts migrating species. The moose capitol of the world is right next door, while the Laramie region is famous for large herds of deer and elk during the rutting season. This is where the Forbes/Sheep Mountain Wildlife Habitat fits into the picture, since this is one of the best places to put a powerful lens to good use.

Highway 230 is a main travel route to Laramie and just north of the Colorado Border is where Fox Creek Road can be found. This dirt road is also call County Road 47 and it is a good option for those who wish to get off the beaten path to do a short loop through the wide open spaces. When looking at a map it is easy to plot a dirt road tour on CR 47 to the Sheep Mountain Wildlife Area. Lake Hattie and a few popular fishing ponds on the way to Laramie.

The Forbes/Sheep Mountain Wildlife Habitat is famous for wildlife viewing and there are campgrounds to be found nearby across the valley up in the higher elevations of the national forest. There are a lot of rules to be aware of, so it is best to read the habitat bulletin board upon arrival at the parking area. The public access and activities both have seasonal limitations in this highly protected wildlife area to be aware of. Summer season wildflower viewing on the slopes is a popular activity and a wide variety of bird species can be seen in this preserve. All this pales in comparison to the wild deer and elk viewing opportunities, which are best when the herds gather during the autumn rutting season. Binoculars or a telephoto lens will save a lot of footwork in this wide open terrain, while rain gear may be needed for the change of seasons. Even if the wildlife viewing turns out to be a dud as it did during my visit, there will still be plenty of fishing opportunities waiting nearby to save the day. Sheep Mountain definitely is worth having a look and the drive getting there is worth the trip too!