The Medicine Bow National Forest's vast natural areas have numerous trails for hikers, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. While you can see lots of wildlife from our scenic drives one of the best ways to spot wildlife is from the trails systems. Rafting and boating is another fun way to get off the beaten path to the places were wildlife frequent.
Nature enthusiasts will be delighted by the region's natural beauty, including hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities. History buffs can explore the area's rich past through museums, historic sites, and cultural events. For those who enjoy a bit of adventure, Carbon County offers a variety of adrenaline-fueled activities such as cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and ATV riding.
Whether you’re ATVing, cycling, climbing, hiking, horseback riding, skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing or driving and enjoying the scenery, we are sure you will appreciate the serene mountains, fertile river valleys, and the exotic high desert. Carbon County wildlife includes moose, elk, black bear, mountain lions, pronghorn antelope, big horn sheep, blue grouse, bald eagles, pine martins, coyotes, foxes and more! There is so much to discover you will want to return year after year.
Carbon County’s variety of habitats provide for excellent bird-watching opportunities. Just ask Palma Jack, a volunteer instructor at the Carbon County Higher Education Center. Jack, who taught introduction to bird watching, is an enthusiast as well.
“One of my favorite places is Saratoga Lake. It’s such a great bird sanctuary,” Jack said. At Saratoga Lake, one can spot in the marshes shorebirds like avocets, striking black-and-white stilts with red legs, sandpipers, plovers and long-billed dowitchers. Mid to late April, pelicans will roost at the lake in
huge quantities – 70 birds or more.
Throughout Carbon County, Canada geese appear on lakes and ponds in the spring, followed by migrating terns, then nesting shorebirds. Ducks congregate by the hundreds at tiny Odd Fellows Park in Saratoga.
In sagebrush country, an observer may see sage, vesper and Brewer’s sparrows; sage thrashers, sage grouse and green-tailed towhees.
Chukars and pheasants sometimes show themselves in the farmland along the North Platte River.
In the Sierra Madre and Snowy Range mountains, Clark’s nutcrackers or “camp robbers” frequent campgrounds seeking handouts. Hummingbirds flutter around flowers or feeders throughout the county.
Look along fence posts and on top of power poles for raptors ranging from pretty little kestrels to the large golden eagles. Ferruginous, red-tailed and Swainson’s hawks are also common.
Bald eagles and ospreys, or fish eagles, are often found perched in old cottonwoods along the county’s rivers looking for their next meal.
Two more areas for great bird watching are along Wyoming Highway 789 between Baggs and Meeker, Colorado, and along Wyoming Highway 130 between Saratoga and Encampment.
Rawlins Outdoor Shooting Complex
Besides trap, skeet and 5 stand shotgun shooting, the range has a 15 shooting position 300 yard rifle range, a 1,000 yard rifle range and 10 position pistol range.
The range includes a 100 yard archery range with elevated stand and 3D targets.
Open to the public Tuesday - Sunday, Closed Monday. Season May 1 to October 31.
Outdoor Shooting Complex
P.O. Box 953
2201 E. Gun Club Road
Rawlins, WY 82301
307-710-0148
Rawlins Shooting Complex Website
The Indoor Shooting Facility is located within the Rawlins Family Recreation Center. Open from November 1st to April 30th, the range is composed of 8 firing lanes allowing discharge of weapons with velocity up to 2000 feet per second.
The automated target retrieval system works with individual target control units located at each firing position allowing shooters to have independent control of their lane. The system also supports a master control unit used for league and tournament play.
Open shooting is encouraged. Targets, ammunition and safety equipment are available for sale or use within the range. There are pistols and .22 rifles available for rental.
A variety of programs through the NRA are offered to the community. Classes in handgun operation for women, .22 rifle safety and shooting for youth, as well as league and tournament play for adults are regularly scheduled.
The facility is used as a training facility for several law enforcement agencies thought out the state.
Location:
1616 Harshman St.
Rawlins, WY 82301
307-324-7529
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday – Friday 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday and Monday closed to shooters, Open to archery
© Carbon County Visitors Council • All Rights Reserved.
