An Iowans Escape to Wyoming: Yurts and the Snowy Range Scenic Byway

There's a good reason that jobs give people PTO. Burnout is a very real thing, and time away is great not only to reset, but to focus on the most important thing: family. You only get one life to live, so creating lasting memories with my kids and wife are essential for our future years. This time around, my family managed its' fourth mountain range - or summit if you will. We've had experiences at Black Elk Peak in South Dakota. We've explored both the Rockies and the Smokies (and probably will again). This time we ventured to southeastern Wyoming to take in the Snowy Range area and summit Medicine Bow Peak.

Credit: Tom Drake | The Snowy Range and Medicine Bow Peak tower above Lake Marie. The pictures try, but don't do it justice.

Our trip was not only breathtaking, but incredibly enjoyable, and what we stayed in was part of the adventure. We spent our nights and mornings staying at the Snowy Range Yurt Cabins. You may be asking yourself, "what in the heck is a yurt?" Fair question, it was my first time staying in one as well. A traditional yurt is a portable circular home used by nomadic peoples, usually built from a wooden frame covered with canvas or skins and designed to be taken apart and moved as needed.

The yurt cabin we stayed in at Snowy Range was inspired by this traditional design but was a permanent structure with modern amenities such as insulation, furniture, a television, and heating. While both share the distinctive round shape and cozy atmosphere, the traditional yurt was a practical mobile dwelling, whereas the Snowy Range yurt is a comfortable recreational lodging experience. Even better, the yurt had a much-used (by us) hot tub; perfect for soaking in after a day on the trails exploring.

Credit: Tom Drake | The Snowy Range Yurt Cabins we stayed in.

No matter what, it was an experience, and a good one at that. Home base was located in Centennial, Wyoming. It was a short drive into the small town (with amazing pizza) and up into the range by way of the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. Simply driving the road itself provided amazing views of wildlife and scenery you simply can't find anywhere in Iowa.

Credit: Tom Drake | Lake Marie Falls

Access to an overlook at Libby Flats is situated directly across from the Snowy range my family would conquer on this trip. Elk, mule deer, moose, marmots, prairie dogs and everything in between can be found in and along the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

Credit: Tom Drake | This mule deer hung out for an afternoon by our yurt.

If you thought Iowa weather was wild, this place takes some crazy swings in climate; from the dessert-like areas of Vedauwoo's hoodoos, to Medicine Bow Peak with its alpine lakes, to the hot springs of Saratoga, there's an experience to be had at each location, all unique to this area.

We were even able to enjoy a process known as glissading, or as I like to call it, "butt-sledding," down the mountain side.

Credit: Tom Drake | One of Vedauwoo's many granite hoodoos along Turtle Rock Trail. Can you spot my wife and son?

I'll be posting more videos and photos from this adventure, giving each the highlight it deserves. Sure, it might take around 13 hours to get there, but the natural treasures that the United States holds are endless and worth the drive for a new experience and time spent with family. I mean, can you say your 11-year-olds conquered a mountain on your last family vacation? Mine can.