An Iowans Escape to Wyoming: Bouldering Vedauwoo’s Granite Hoodoos

After spending the first part of our Wyoming adventure chasing mountain peaks, hiking along alpine lakes, and soaking in the beauty of the Snowy Range, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what this part of the country had to offer. We had slept in a yurt tucked among the mountains, pushed ourselves to the top of Medicine Bow Peak, and found relaxation in the natural warmth of the Hobo Hot Springs. But Wyoming had one more surprise waiting for us.

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Like a scene out of one of my favorite video games (Red Dead Redemption 2), the mountains gave way to desert shrubs and giant granite formations. In some places here, the trail disappeared into pure curiosity and adventure, especially when it came to my son. Our next stop wasn't about reaching the highest point or covering the most miles. It was about climbing, exploring, and seeing what adventures we could find among the towering rocks of Vedauwoo.

Vedauwoo (pronounced vee-da-voo) is a giant recreation and camping area within the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest not far from Laramie in Buford, WY. Where our previous adventures were all alpine lakes and mountains, this one could only be described as elevated desert with a bunch of funky granite rock formations. The formations are known as hoodoos. A hoodoo is a tall, oddly-shaped column of rock that has been shaped by erosion; whether from wind, water, freezing, or thawing. Here the hoodoos are less traditional as they are considered Sherman Granite formations. Either way, they look like giant stacks of boulders, oddly placed and balanced into hulking monstrosities.

Credit: Tom Drake | Can you spot my wife and son?

There was moose poop everywhere on our hike along the Turtle Rock Loop, but on this occasion, we didn't spot one. What I did find was an overly adventurous son, that had me following him all over the boulders near an absolutely gorgeous natural spring and falls area towards the end of the trail. Naturally, I had to capture a bunch of video from our explorations, which you can check out below.

The Turtle Rock Loop Trail was the perfect introduction to Vedauwoo. At just under two miles, it isn't a long hike by any means, and compared to our climb up Medicine Bow Peak, it could have been a warm-up. But that is what makes Vedauwoo so unique. The trail itself is relatively easy, but the adventure level is completely up to you.

If you want a casual walk through some incredible scenery, you can do that. If you want to scramble over giant granite boulders, squeeze through cracks, and see how far your curiosity can take you, you can do that too. Vedauwoo is one of those places where the trail is more of a suggestion. The real adventure begins when you start looking around and wondering, "what's over there?"

Credit: Tom Drake

One thing we noticed immediately was how different the weather felt compared to the alpine environment we had just experienced at Medicine Bow Peak. Just days earlier, we were wearing pants, long sleeves, and jackets while battling the chilly mountain wind at the top of Wyoming. At Vedauwoo, we traded those layers for shorts, t-shirts, and plenty of sunscreen. The elevation was still high at over 8,000 feet, but the exposed granite canyon-like landscape, and heat, gave it a completely different feel.

Credit: Tom Drake

For my son Bennett, Vedauwoo was basically the world's greatest playground. Every crack in the granite was a potential cave. Every giant boulder was a challenge waiting to be climbed. I watched him squeeze through openings, climb over rocks, and search around every corner for something new to discover; and there was plenty.

Credit: Tom Drake

That curiosity eventually led us toward one of the coolest parts of the hike; a beautiful natural spring and falls area tucked among, through, and under the rocks. Getting there wasn't as simple as following a flat trail. It required some serious bouldering, climbing, and teamwork to navigate our way through the granite. It was exactly the kind of adventure a young boy dreams about.

Credit: Tom Drake | My wife found the path that eventual led above the natural spring and falls area. These views are amazing!

And that's what made Vedauwoo so special. It wasn't about checking off another difficult hike or reaching another summit. It was about slowing down and letting the landscape lead us wherever it wanted. We were rewarded with incredible views, a hidden waterfall, and something even better: quality time spent doing what young boys love most, exploring with dad. But really, the whole family was rewarded.

Credit: Tom Drake | Turtle Rock

Vedauwoo ended up being our final big adventure before heading into Laramie, Wyoming, where we traded hiking boots for a good meal. Of course, I couldn't visit Laramie without checking out a restaurant that had earned a little national attention from one of my favorite food shows, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri.

Credit: Tom Drake | The Naughty from Born in a Barn in Laramie, WY.

Our final Wyoming meal came from Born in a Barn, and it did not disappoint. I went with the Naughty burger; a spicy creation that brings plenty of heat, while keeping every bite delicious. After days of hiking, climbing, and exploring, there might not have been a better way to end our Wyoming adventure than sitting down with a killer burger and chatting about everything we had experienced as a family. Besides, I needed to savor that burger; there was the return 13-hour drive on the cards the next day.