Vedauwoo:
One of my favorite places

Nico chowing down
in the pens at Vedauwoo.

Just a couple of hours from Boulder is one of my favorite places to ride, camp and hike. The fires were still burning in Colorado, and the temperatures high so getting out of town was a great idea. From our campsite looking south to Colorado you could see the plumes of smoke from the High Park fire, 11,000 acres and growing. Fortunately the winds were not blowing in our direction, but Cheyenne looked to be getting some smoke. 

The horse camping and riding in this area of Wyoming is endless—whether you stay on a road, trail or simply head off cross country. We were fortunate to get the pens (total of 10) for the duration of our trip. It is a first come, first serve campsite so be prepared if the site is full when you arrive to find another gorgeous site and tie to your trailer, picket line or set up your own corral. The nice thing about this designated site is the spring and cattle tank, but this time around the tank was dry because of a broken valve and connection. So I set up a drip bucket at the main line to collect some water.

Cheryl, Mary, Lee and Camy smoke
from the High Park fire
in the background.

I arrived Thursday and had the site to myself, two other horses were there and their owners had their RV nearby. The site shows some wear and tear but the pens have been nicely maintained by the Backcountry Horseman's Association (thank you). After settling in Nico and I went for a lovely dusk ride and came face to face with a handsome antelope buck. That evening after dinner I relaxed in my hammock as the darkness revealed a cosmic wonder of stars. Friday morning was perfect, I tacked up Nico and off we went exploring. My goal was to discover some new routes through the aspens to the Beaver pond, we succeeded! Later that day my friends Lee, Cheryl, Mary, Hal and Pete joined me at the site, and later that evening a local couple, Crystal and Billy (Lee and I met them here a couple of years ago). Bill managed to fix the tank, thanks Bill, I am sure all the other day and overnight riders, along with the cows, moose and other critters will appreciate that! 

Saturday after breakfast we all saddled up and rode out for another great ride. Crystal and Billy knew all the trails from years of riding in the area, she ponied her 1 1/2 year old filly, what a cutie she was (you too Crystal)! Climbing up gently to Devils Throat and dodging the ghosts in the Haunted Forest was all part of the fun ride.

Sunday morning a moose passed through camp and Mary got a good shot of it. I was sound asleep, missed it again! The girls tacked up and explored more trails to the South. Rolling grasslands, aspens and some bogs were part of the ride before we packed up and headed home to Colorado.

TIP: go during the week for less crowds, and have a water tank in your rig just in case!
NOTE:  This is a popular area for locals, so don't think you will be alone up there on weekends.
It can be somewhat crowded with RV/ATV use (designated roads only), but there are plenty of places to ride your horse without feeling too much pressure from other users.