Wyoming’s Greys River: A Wyoming Overland Adventure
Wyoming’s Greys River: A Wyoming Overland Adventure
We spent the past week traveling through Wyoming, exploring both familiar areas from past visits and venturing into new territory. One of these new areas was the Greys River in Western Wyoming. We drove the entire length of Greys River Road, which runs between the Wyoming Range and the Salt River Range. It’s a stunning area with constant mountain views, large meadows, and the Greys River running alongside much of the road.
Getting There
Greys River Road runs north-south. In the north, you can start the trail in Alpine, Wyoming. In the south, you can pick up the trail just south of La Barge, Wyoming, on La Barge County Road 315. We chose to drive the road starting in the south and working our way north.
At the southern end, the road begins in a desert landscape surrounded by badlands. There is BLM land mixed with some large private ranches. As you continue north, you transition onto Forest Service land, and the landscape shifts from desert to forested mountainous terrain.
Road Conditions
The road started out perfectly smooth in the south, but as we moved onto Forest Service land, it became quite rough. We encountered many deep potholes, ruts, and washboard surfaces. Additionally, since it was raining during our drive, we faced plenty of water and mud. At this point, the road follows La Barge Creek. Once you get north of Smith’s Fork, the road begins to follow the Greys River. The further north you go, the better the road conditions become, eventually turning into a wide gravel road suitable for vehicles towing travel trailers and large fifth wheels. This route doesn’t challenge your off-road technical skills, but there are many side trails that offer more technical terrain if that’s what you’re looking for.
Camping
Along the entire road, you’ll find countless dispersed camping spots. Securing a waterfront spot along either La Barge Creek or the Greys River isn’t difficult. We explored the area during the week and encountered very few people. I imagine it gets much busier on weekends.
We found a campsite right on the river, which accommodated both of our vehicles comfortably. We were fortunate to discover great campsites throughout our trip, but this one was among the best. The amazing thing about this area is that it wasn’t a hidden gem we stumbled upon—there are probably dozens of similar spots along the river.
Fishing
My primary focus for this trip was to explore the area and find a relaxing campsite. With our campsite right on the river and the river’s reputation for excellent fishing, I couldn’t resist trying my luck. I used our Starlink to access the Wyoming Fish and Game website and purchase a fishing license, then spent a few hours fishing. Having spent most of my life fishing for bass and northern pike in the midwest, I’ve had to adjust to targeting trout since moving out west. Despite being a novice, I had no trouble catching fish from the shore at our campsite. I worked a 100-yard stretch of shoreline upstream from our campsite and continually hooked into fish. It was a great experience and made the area even more special.
What We Learned
The Greys River area is an outdoorsman’s paradise. If you love fishing, there’s plenty of action to be had. Want to hike? There are ample trails to explore. Looking for off-road trails? Check out some of the side trails off Greys River Road. Perhaps you just want a peaceful weekend camping by the river—this area has that covered too. We didn’t see much game during our visit, but I imagine the hunting is quite good as well. If you’re exploring Wyoming, don’t miss the Greys River and the Wyoming Range. You won’t regret it.
August 16, 2024
