Snowy Range Scenic Byway
Medicine Bow National Forest, WY

The origin of Medicine Bow is legendary. The generally accepted version is that Native American tribes that inhabited southeastern Wyoming found mountain mahogany in one of the mountain valleys, from which bows of exceptional quality were made. It became the custom of friendly tribes to assemble there annually and construct their weapons. At these assemblies there were ceremonial powwows for the cure of diseases, which, in the hybrid speech that developed between the lindens and the early whites, was known as making-medicine. Eventually, the whites associated the terms making medicine and making bows, and Medicine Bow resulted as a name for the locality. Later, the name gained world-wide renown through Owen Wister's novel, The Virginian.

The Medicine Bow National Forest is located in the southeast quarter of Wyoming and encompasses portions of three mountain ranges: the Laramie, Medicine Bow and Sierra Madre. The Forest provides year-round recreation opportunities for thousands of people and provides wildlife habitat, timber and forage for livestock. It is also a vital source of water for irrigation, domestic use and industry. The topography varies greatly within the forest due to the large geographic area encompassed. Elevations range from 5,500 feet to 12,013 feet.

There are four different Wilderness Areas on the Medicine Bow National Forest; Savage Run, Platte River, Huston Park and Encampment River Wilderness. These areas offer freedom from cars crowds and mechanical noise.