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Late for Heaven
SuperTrax Magazine Spring 2004C.J. Ramstad
The Big Horns are the stuff of legend. Long a popular destination among well-traveled riders who know this eastern Wyoming range for its big mountain riding experience, it's closer to the Midwest, near the eastern boundary city of Sheridan, Wyoming, located off US Highway 87, just south of the Montana border. Unlike some mountain destinations, this means easy, major freeway trailering almost to the trail-head.
Several hotels are located in Sheridan and you'll find snowmobilers are welcome in this neck of the woods. A short trailer run outside of town to Red Grade parking allows the closest access to the trails and the wild, big, open riding waiting above.
The Big Horns also offer many upscale, frill-service lodging resorts featuring direct access to the trails. Bear Lodge Resort, located on scenic byway US l4A, is an insider favorite. Trailering there is an experience, but once there you are rewarded with deluxe trailside accommodations, fine food in the restaurants and a stone fireplace to relax by in the Bear's Den Lounge. Like many of the full service resorts of the area, the Bear Lodge Resort also features a snowmobile shop with rentals, guide service, parts and accessories. When your day of riding is done, take a dip in the pool or hot tub or spend time with friends in the game room.
The guided tours are rated in three levels from scenic trail tours to the Kodiak Ultimate Experience (experienced riders), a tour that explores wide-open country riding where very few ever venture.
The Big Horn trails offer a wide variety of riding experiences from wide and smooth well-groomed cruising to twisty trails that lead to some beautiful scenic overpasses like Bucking Mule Falls, a not to be missed attraction. The Big Horns are also home to unbelievable off-trail wilderness riding that ranges from open meadows to challenging hillclimbs that rival any deep Rockies location.
Big Horns area information: Wyoming Tourism 307-777-7777 or wyotrails.state.wy.us. For information about Bear Lodge Resort and Outdoor Adventures guided snowmobile tours 307-752-2444 or www.bearlodgeresort.com.
