Each community in Carbon County, Wyoming has its own unique flavor, area attractions and community events. Explore them all!
Rawlins is the county seat of Carbon County and home to the annual Carbon County Fair and Rodeo. Saratoga is famous for its hot springs and proximity to the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. Encampment and Riverside have great North Platte River access areas. Elk Mountain is known for the Historic Elk Mountain Hotel. Hanna has a rich history of hard luck coal miners and the Union Pacific coal company. The tiny towns of Baggs, Dixon and Savery lie along one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in the lower 48, known as the Battle Pass Highway. Sinclair features a collection of amazing Spanish style architecture and Medicine Bow has access to some of the best hunting and fishing in the state.
Plan a visit to a Carbon County community and uncover your own distinctive adventure.
Cities and towns in Carbon County, Wyoming
Baggs
Visitors can visit the Outlaw Stop and
view the house that Butch Cassidy occasionally
stayed in. Sportsmen also can
take advantage of local hunting with the
aid of outfitting businesses located in
Baggs. Visitors also can take a drive
along the scenic byway starting in Baggs
and traveling east on Wyoming Highway
70 through Dixon and Savery to Encampment
and Riverside. The route is
known as Battle Mountain Highway and
winds through the Medicine Bow National
Forest through fields of aspen trees
into thick pine forest.
Dixon
As the Host City of the Little Snake River Valley Rodeo, Dixon, like the entire valley, has never strayed far from its western roots. Named for the trapper, Bob Dixon, the town has a wonderful charm and laid-back style. The Dixon Town Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1911, the Dixon Club has been a longtime watering hole for weary travelers passing through the valley. Its walls are covered with antiques and mementos of the area, so make sure to set aside a few extra minutes to explore and enjoy this piece of local history.
Elk Mountain
Elk Mountain is a small town, population 192, located at the base of it's 11,156 foot namesake, in Carbon County, Wyoming. Elk Mountain was named after Sioux Chief Standing Elk. Elk Mountain has a variety of activities for each season, some of which include world class trout fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, hiking, skiing, and camping.
Encampment
Once called Grand Encampment by French-Canadian trappers who rendezvoused along the Encampment River, this small town has a rich history. In 1897, copper was discovered in the Sierra Madre Mountains just above this quiet settlement, and soon hundreds flocked to the area to get their share of the mined riches.The Encampment Museum is a must see when visiting Encampment.
Hanna
History buffs will enjoy the Hanna Museum which offers an excellent background on the coal company town of Hanna. The Hanna Recreation Center has an Olympic sized pool and a rare Rotary Locomotive on display. Also be sure to visit the three memorials built to honor the miners lost in two explosions, one in 1903 and the other in 1908, which took the lives of 228 local miners. Hanna is the gateway to the activities in the North Country including the famous Fisherman Paradise of Miracle Mile Boating and Seminoe State Park.
Medicine Bow
Visitors can enjoy a meal or stay at the Virginian Hotel, named after Owen Wister’s classic novel. The hotel also hosts the “Battle of Old Wyoming” music festival in August. A few miles east on Highway 30 is the Dinosaur Fossil Cabin, built entirely of bones excavated from the nearby “dinosaur graveyard” of Como Bluff.
Rawlins
As the county seat, Rawlins
is situated like a gateway to
the outdoor playgrounds of
Carbon County. A favorite attraction
in Rawlins is the Carbon
County Museum, which is
ever expanding and adding
new displays, including a Discovery
Room for children. The
museum is home to historical
artifacts from Rawlins and
around the entire county. Another
popular spot is the
Rochelle Ranch Golf Course
located on the east side of
Rawlins.
Riverside
With Riverside’s small population, visitors will enjoy the friendly atmosphere of small town America at its finest. This town offers travelers all of the amenities needed to enjoy a great vacation. Food, gas, and lodging are all readily available. Nestled among tall cottonwood and aspen trees, you’ll discover a beautiful town park. There you’ll find plenty of play equipment for the kids, as well as picnic tables and a covered cooking area.
Saratoga
Visitors can enjoy a float trip, either by
inner tube or boat, down the North Platte
River starting in Saratoga or schedule an
outdoor adventure, such as a guided fishing
trip, with one of the many outfitters in
town. The North Platte River is known for
its trophy fishing opportunities. Travelers can stop for lunch
or shopping in town before embarking
upon the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. Saratoga
Lake Campground is a perfect place to
host family camping trips.
Savery
Resting quietly between the desolate beauty of the Red Desert to the west and the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains to the east, the Little Snake River Valley is one of the most isolated places in Wyoming. There is a strong sense of history here exemplified by the many old log cabins scattered around the area. However, the people who make the valley their home will tell you that the real magic here is the easy pace of life.
