Vedauwoo Rock Formations

The rock at Vedauwoo is a very old, coarse-grained granite that formed deep underground more than a billion years ago. Over immense spans of time the land above it wore away, exposing the granite, and then the granite itself weathered along cracks into rounded blocks and towers.

Water working into the joints, freezing and thawing, and the slow crumbling of the coarse crystals shaped the piled, softened look, leaving stacks of huge boulders and knobs balanced in improbable ways. The same coarse texture that shaped the towers gives climbers their famously grippy, abrasive holds.

The name Vedauwoo derives from an Arapaho word often understood to mean earthborn or the spirits of young men and animals, and the formations were regarded as a sacred place where people came for vision and reflection. To the Arapaho, this was not merely scenery but a place charged with spiritual meaning.

The Northern Arapaho today share the Wind River Reservation to the northwest, and their ties to this country endure. Visitors are asked to treat Vedauwoo with the respect due a place that has held meaning for Native people far longer than it has been a recreation area.

Vedauwoo is renowned among climbers, especially for crack climbing, where the coarse granite and endless fissures offer challenging routes with a reputation for testing both skill and skin. Boulderers and roped climbers come from far away to work its problems and cracks.

You do not have to climb to enjoy it. Trails wind among the formations, including easy loops good for families, and picnic areas and a campground sit tucked among the rocks. Scrambling up the lower boulders for a view is a favorite pastime, and the setting is a fine place to simply wander and marvel.

The mix of granite, pine, aspen, and meadow supports mule deer, pronghorn on the open flats, marmots and pikas in the rocks, and a range of birds, with raptors riding the winds above the towers. Wildflowers brighten the meadows in early summer.

This is high, exposed country where the weather can change quickly and afternoon thunderstorms build fast in summer. Summer and early fall are the prime seasons for climbing and hiking, fall turns the aspens gold, and winter brings snow and cold that draw a few for quiet snowshoeing among the frosted rocks.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Vedauwoo, in the Medicine Bow National Forest between Cheyenne and Laramie in southeastern Wyoming, is a striking area of massive, rounded granite rock formations that rise in fantastic piles and towers from the forest and high plains. The wind-sculpted granite, among the oldest exposed rock in the region, creates a playground for hikers, climbers, and photographers, with formations that seem stacked and balanced in improbable shapes. The name comes from an Arapaho word associated with earth-born spirits, reflecting the area's significance to Native peoples. With its dramatic granite towers, trails, and world-class climbing, Vedauwoo offers a scenic and adventurous destination in southeastern Wyoming.

You can hike the trails that wind among and around the granite formations, rock climb and boulder on the famous crack climbs that draw climbers from far and wide, scramble on the rocks, picnic and camp, photograph the dramatic scenery, and watch for wildlife amid the forest and rock. The unusual granite towers make for wonderful exploring and photography. Vedauwoo is especially renowned for its challenging crack climbing. With its trails, climbing, camping, and spectacular rock scenery, Vedauwoo offers an adventurous and beautiful outdoor experience between Cheyenne and Laramie in southeastern Wyoming.

The granite formations invite scrambling, but the rock can be steep, slick, and higher than it looks, and falls are a real danger, so climb and scramble within your ability, use proper equipment and experience for technical climbing, keep children close on the rocks, and never go beyond a point you cannot safely get back down from. The high elevation brings cool temperatures, sudden weather, and strong sun, so bring layers, water, and sun protection. Being cautious on the rocks and prepared for the mountain conditions ensures a safe and rewarding visit to Vedauwoo in southeastern Wyoming.

Late spring through fall is the prime time for hiking, climbing, and camping at Vedauwoo, when the weather is mildest and the roads and campgrounds are open, with summer the peak season, though even summer can be cool, windy, and prone to afternoon storms at the elevation, so bring layers, and fall brings pleasant color. Winter is cold and snowy. For the best combination of comfortable weather and full access to the rocks and trails, aim for late spring through fall at Vedauwoo between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

Vedauwoo is in the Medicine Bow National Forest between Cheyenne and Laramie in southeastern Wyoming, near Curt Gowdy State Park, the Laramie Mountains, and within reach of the college town of Laramie and Cheyenne with its State Capitol and museums. That makes Vedauwoo a scenic and adventurous stop to combine with Curt Gowdy State Park, Laramie, Cheyenne, and the other attractions of southeastern Wyoming on a visit to the state.