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Snow Survey Cabin is located 28 miles southeast of Saratoga, Wyoming, in the Snowy Range of Medicine Bow National Forest. The cabin, located just off the Snowy Range Scenic Byway at nearly 10,000 feet, was built in 1944 and was a shelter for snow surveyors. Today, it is a unique lodging experience for guests seeking rustic recreation and relaxation in southeastern Wyoming. The cabin is open year-round and is accessible by vehicle in good road conditions. Winter access to the facility requires snowmobiling, skiing or snowshoeing up to six miles. Basic amenities are provided, but guests should be prepared to pack in some of their own supplies and gear. Recreation In the summer months, a vast hiking trail system accessing the highest elevations of the Snowy Range extends from the cabin's back door. Hikers looking for a challenge can make the trek up Medicine Bow Peak at an elevation of 12,013 feet, or hike nearby Browns Peak or Sugarloaf Mountain. Fishing is available at many alpine lakes and streams, including the popular Mirror Lake day use site. Winter brings deep powder snow for the snowmobiler and cross-country skier. Facilities The one-room cabin is furnished with two sets of bunk beds and can accommodate up to four people. The cabin is equipped with a propane cook stove, heater, solar lights, table and chairs, cookware, and basic cooking and eating utensils. An outhouse with vault toilet is located nearby. No running water is available at the cabin. Guests must bring their own supply of water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Snow for melting is usually available in winter. Guests need to provide their own food, sleeping bags, lanterns or flashlights, pillows, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. All trash and food must be packed out, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving. No pets are allowed within the building. Pets must be on leash or lead outside to protect wildlife. Pet must be cleaned up after by owner. Natural Features From valleys and canyons that rise steeply to jagged ridges, the Snowy Range boasts alpine lakes, wildflower meadows and a mixed forest of spruce, lodgepole pine, subalpine fir and aspen. At elevations of 9,000 to 12,000 feet, it lives up to its name, as snow can fall in the area during any month of the year. Wildlife viewing is abundant near the cabin, including elk, deer and moose. Migratory birds, squirrels and an occasional black bear find habitat in the forest as well. Nearby Attractions The Snowy Range is transected by Wyoming Highway 130 between Laramie and Saratoga. This is the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. Many campgrounds, picnic areas and hiking trails are located along its course. The small Snowy Range Ski Resort is accessible from this scenic byway as well; however, portions of Highway 130 are not completely accessible during the winter. ADA Access: N
From Saratoga, travel south on Highway 130 for 8 miles to the Highway130/230 junction. Turn left (east) on Highway 130 and drive 20 miles to Forest Service Road 257 (also known as Snowstorm Road). Turn onto Forest Service Road 257 and continue for approximately 100 yards to the cabin.
Highway 130 closes at the winter closure gate 6 miles west of Forest Service Road 257. There is a large parking area at the winter closure gate available for use called the Ryan Park Snowmobile Parking Area. Winter access requires parking at the 'chains end' closure gate and using a snowmobile, skis or snowshoes to reach the cabin.
Access to the cabin during the winter months can be either six miles from the lower 'chains end' gate at the Ryan Park Snowmobile Parking Area on the west side of the Snowy Range or 1 mile beyond the upper "chains end" gate. The Wyoming Highway Department determines which closure gate will be open or closed.
This cabin is definitely a unique experience, and as an alternative to a hotel room it is very reasonably priced. The fact that it has a stove and some kitchen utensils as a bonus. You will need to bring your own bedding, and the mattresses were covered with a strange sort of mattress cover, which on two of the mattresses was kind of torn up and gross looking. But we brought our own sleeping bags, so we were fine. The ventilation was not all that great, there was a small window that can be opened but the screen was broken, so we'll left the window shut. The bathroom has recently been completely rebuilt outside, it's a pit toilet, and much nicer than the one that was there before. In all, a fun experience and a cute location.
Be aware that there are NO SIGNS whatsoever to lead you to the cabin, even though it is close to the main road. Make sure you have excellent maps or a GPS unit to lead you there during snow events or if you arrive after dark (when the main road is closed). Snow can drift over the stop sign, which is the only indication of the forest road that leads to the cabin.
This is my second time staying in this cabin. This is a great place to introduce people to camping that may be hesitant to stay out in a forest. It’s a nice little cabin with propane heat, lighting, and stove/oven. It does have a pit toilet so make sure you bring your own toilet paper. The cabin is relatively clean but be sure that you stash your food in a secure box or hang it from one of the hooks because there are mice and other critters that will come in and try to steal your food. It is within 3 miles of a couple lakes so it is a doable hike in the summer for a pretty easy backcountry snowshoe in the winter. There is access to several trails and to track for people with dirt bikes or other ATVs and access to awesome that country for snowmobilers in the winter. In the wintertime it is an easy 1 mile from the road closure gate and makes you feel that you are completely away from civilization when you snowshoeing. During the summer, even though it is literally right off the highway, it is over a small hill so you cannot see the cabin from the road and again will feel like you are further in the back country than you actually are. This is a fun place to hang out that is relatively affordable.
Great little cabin for a weekend getaway. Like one of the other reviews mentioned there isn't a sign on Snowy Range Rd. to let you know where the cabin is. It wasn't an issue for us since there wasn't any snow on the ground but I could see how that could make it difficult. Has solar powered lighting and propane lighting available. The propane heater works great for when it gets a little chilly overnight. The outhouse looks fairly new and it was probably the cleanest outhouse I have ever used. I would definitely stay here again!
What an amazing place- warms right up once you figure out the pilot light on the heater. Cozy and incredibly beautiful. It’s an extremely popular area for snowmobiling so you won’t find the most solitude around the cabin, but it’s still very nice and easily accessible even in winter. We got away from snowmobiling noise on medicine bow peak with some backcountry skiing
