Mountains and Forests
Outdoor enthusiasts will marvel at the variety of landscapes Converse County has to offer. From the mountains on the horizon of the 
county’s southern reaches to the grasslands in the north, multiple landscapes lend themselves to outdoor recreation and adventure.
The Thunder Basin National Grassland is home to numerous species of wildlife. According to the local office of the U.S. Forest Service, the Fiddleback area is a large area of prairie on the Thunder Basin National Grassland located between Douglas and Gillette. The area includes the Cheyenne River Valley with the Red Hills and Rochelle Hills surrounding the area to the west and north. It is also a haven for eagles, raptors, deer, elk, and antelope. To access this area, take Hwy 59 to Bill and then take the Steinle Road turnoff (a good gravel road). Follow Steinle Road to the Dull Center Road up through the Fiddleback Ranch. You can return to Hwy 59 via the Steckley Road.
Laramie Peak, the highest peak on Converse County’s southern horizon, is 10,272 feet tall. Emigrants who traveled on the Oregon and Mormon trails used the Peak as a guidepost. Laramie Peak was the first “Rocky Mountain” they saw from vantage points as far away as Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The Peak was also a forewarning of the rugged crossing of the Continental Divide that lay ahead. There is a steep 4.8-mile trail to the top of Laramie Peak that is open to ATVs, horses, bicycles, and hikers. This trail offers a panoramic view of southeastern Wyoming. The Laramie Peak trailhead is located 1/4 mile from the Friend Park Campground and requires a $5.00/vehicle parking fee or day use pass. Forest Road 671 offers access to the trailhead.
LaBonte Canyon is an area of steep granite rock formations suited for hiking and photography. The scenic steep canyon walls, groves of aspen, and stands of conifer can be viewed from Forest Road 658. Large populations of deer, elk, and bighorn sheep inhabit the area. LaBonte Canyon has several trails open to ATVs, horses, bicycles, and hikers. The Curtis Gulch Campground is located at the end of the canyon. Also, there are many beautiful undeveloped campsites available along LaBonte Creek.
Black Mountain is located off Forest Road 633 in Harris Park. The Black Mountain Lookout Tower on top of the peak is accessible by a rugged 3.5-mile long 4-wheel drive road. The tower was built by the Forest Service in 1958 and is now on the National Historic Lookout Register. Black Mountain is one of the few fire lookouts still in operation in the United States and is open from June until October. Visitors are welcome!
Wilderness without the official designation, this area encompasses the western, northern, and eastern sweep around Laramie Peak. New trails have made accessing this wild country safer and easier, but still offer solitude and challenge. The best access trails to the basin are the Roaring Fork Trail west of Black Mountain and Harris Park Trail east of Black Mountain.
Maps and information are available at the Douglas Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service at 2250 E. Richards Street in Douglas or by calling 307-358-4690. Additional information is also available online at www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/.
| P.O. Box 1212, Douglas, WY 82633 |