Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 7,000 ft
GPS: 42.002, -105.4083
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 229,150 total · 1,552/month
Shared By: Dennis Horning on Feb 8, 2012
Admins: Noah Kaufman, Mike Snyder, Taylor Spiegelberg, Jake Dickerson
Warning Access Issue: Some areas within this allotment are private. Zones within this management area have seasonal closures. DetailsDrop down

A Greenland Sales Pitch? Once in a Lifetime! Suggest change

.

The Laramie Peak Wildlife Habitat Management Area (LPWHMA) is an almost unknown region of 11,000++ acres in the Laramie Range situated within eastern Albany County and managed by Wyoming Game & Fish with several points of public access. The name for this area is a bit misleading in that the associated landmark within its name, Laramie Peak, is 18 air miles NNW of this region. In addition to the eleven thousand Habitat acres, the northeastern boundary of this region provides the only public access to the Forest Service lands surrounding Reese Mtn and Collins (Notch) Peak.

The central core/uplift of the rock here is the Reese Mountain Archean Granite. It is of less area but distinct and younger than the Laramie Peak Archean Granite. Even so this area offers some of the best, most and longest crack and face climbs in the Wyoming's SE quadrant. There may be as many as 500 pitches here. Within the region you can also find a trove of unclimbed rock walls and boulders. In general the Reese granite offers far more features that the Laramie Peak granite so if you are looking for pure cracks go north.

Surrounding this core of granite are various Archean metamorphic rocks that to the untrained eye are taken for granite. The most visible of the metamorphic rocks is the Split Rock/Sugar Loaf gneiss. The whole area is riddled with peridotite/amphibolite dikes (very black) and many green stone belts are perched here and there with more occuring in the eastern portion. Green stone belts are preserved, exposed rock sections of sequential aged Archean metamorphic rock formations. The greenstone belts of Reese rival those in South Africa and Australia. By any comparison there is large spectrum of Archean metamorphic rocks here. For a geologic map of Reese Mtn and east see

Reese Mtn Geology Map

For an explanation of metamorphism:

Barrovian Metamorphism

Closure:
Within the LPWHMA are zones that closed part of the year to public entry and are marked with signs at the road access points of the closure boundary. Some times the wind breaks the sign post and the sign will be laying on the ground. The posted closed time begins Dec 1st and extends to May 1st. The purpose of the closure is for undisturbed (by people) winter wildlife habit.

Camping: You can camp most places within the LPWHMA except on those that are private land or those that are currently closed for the season. Out of courtesy for the privacy and resources of the landowner I suggest do not camp near the ranch houses, where there are cattle, cattle feeding zones or hay meadows. i.e.the middle of meadow.

Water: Bring some water and/or a water filter. The pipes feeding the big rubber tire cow tanks have safe water when sipping off the inlet pipe. I discourage drinking out of the tank outlet pipe and saying, "Boy this is good water."

In general where there are summits composed of Reese Granite one can find pools of water on the top but not those of metamorphic rocks compositions. The Split Rock and Pine Mtn Complex have almost no pools and the streams go dry soon into summer. Collins Creek, Grizzly Creek, Ashley Creek, Duck Creek, parts of Cherry Creek and Salt Creek are mapped as perennial streams, but in the driest years they may not flow continuously/continually.

Safety: Safety Trumps Leaving No Trace in this Area. You will find hangers on bolts.

Would a 4WD be Better? Yes, Often Suggest change

From the middle of May through the middle of June stream crossings are muddy on the sides making climb-outs difficult without a 4WD. A high clearance PU can get you most places after the ground dries and sets up. But I have seen a Saturn and a Pinto at the Toni Gulch parking while some Outback drivers walk before they get there.

Access is off Tunnel Rd and off the Palmer Rd. The topo maps of this region use different road naming than Albany County is now using.

When approaching from the west pick up Fetterman/Palmer Road 3 miles north of Rock River on the right off highway 287. After about 25 miles of gravel on Fetterman/Palmer road you will cross a broad ridge and then rapidly descend entering a basin. From the junction at the row of mail boxes taking the left fork is the continuation of the Palmer Rd. and the right fork is the beginning of Tunnel Rd. Choose you direction at this junction for which sub area of the LPWHMA you wish to visit. This junction is about 1.75 miles due west of the western edge of the LPWHMA and is not displayed on the included LPWHMA map.

When approaching form the east take State Highway 34 west of Wheatland to the vicinity of mile marker 36 and turn off right just north of the Bluegrass Creek (35.88)bridge(west) on Tunnel Road along side a row of mailboxes. The first 4 miles of this road are paved and after about 14 miles from #34 you will cross the Laramie River. When at the bridge you are within the southern most portion of the LPWMHA. From here select your local destination in LPWMHA from the map or visit some of the 9 climbing areas within the unit. If your access is on Palmer Road drive 10.5 miles west of the Laramie River bridge on Tunnel Rd to jct Garrett Road then right and travel north 1.6 miles to the Palmer junction then right NE and on to the parking lot you are seeking.

The GPS coordinates given above for the LPWHMA are for Duck Creek Falls which is slightly north of the center of this huge Area. The Falls area is about 35 air miles ENE of Rock River and some 24 air miles WWS of Wheatland. The GPS coordinates for the Main Entrance are 41 57.355 and -105 26.731.

Hiking: There are no maintained trails within the LPWHMA. The two easy to follow ad hoc trails in the Area are along Duck Creek and down Toni Gulch. A less easy to follow trail is the path that begins NE of the Meadow Mound after passing through the wire gate on the closed 2-track which is at the NE end of the meadow of the Kennedy Ranch Rocks.

NO CAMPFIRES in this special use area is demanded by landowners.

The signage at the entrance to the LPWHMA makes no mention of campfires rules.  But the Kennedy ranch folks demand NO CAMPFIRES.  They do own most of the private land in this special use area managed by WY Game and Fish and could have roads closed where violations occur. So if you must have a campfire go elsewhere.

292 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Laramie Peak Wildlife Habitat Management Area Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Laramie Peak Wildlife Habitat Management Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 7
Bonnie Lass
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 6
A Lube Job on Tiger Rock
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 4
Red Mite
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 12
Direct Northeast
Trad 3 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 8
Tiger Woods Me on Tiger Rock
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 4
Walk Like an Egyptian
Sport 2 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 8
Douhitt Flow
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 4
Intolerant of the Intolerant
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 4
Cryatal Power
Sport
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 10
[Redacted]
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 5
Hanging of Yellowstone Kelley
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 4
[Redacted]
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 6
Orange Marmalade
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 4
Bon Bini
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 5
Voodoo Cherry Bomb
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Bonnie Lass Laramie River C… > Gneiss Canyon
 7
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
A Lube Job on Tiger Rock Kennedy Ranch R… > the Meadow Mound
 6
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Red Mite Reese Mountain > … > Book Pages Mound > Curl
 4
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Direct Northeast Sugar Loaf > Northeast Shoulder
 12
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 3 pitches
Tiger Woods Me on Tiger Rock Kennedy Ranch R… > the Meadow Mound
 8
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Walk Like an Egyptian Reese Mountain > … > HightowerSW > Tunnel
 4
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport 2 pitches
Douhitt Flow Douthitt Mountain > Stuffed Valley
 8
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Intolerant of the Intolerant Toaster Wall
 4
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Cryatal Power Laramie River C… > Gneiss Canyon
 4
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
[Redacted] Toaster Wall
 10
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
Hanging of Yellowstone Kelley Reese Mountain > … > Book Pages Mound > Douglas Park
 5
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
[Redacted] Kennedy Ranch R… > the Meadow Mound
 4
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Orange Marmalade Douthitt Mountain > Stuffed Valley
 6
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Bon Bini Toaster Wall
 4
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Voodoo Cherry Bomb Sugar Loaf > S Face Base
 5
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Laramie Peak Wildlife Habitat Management Area »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading