Encampment River Wilderness
Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming

At 10,124 acres, Encampment River is Wyoming's smallest National Wilderness Area. The Wilderness is a 16-square-mile strip along the bottom of the canyon of the Encampment River. This is a beautiful riparian area through the canyon alongside some pretty wild rapids and a few placid stretches. The trout fishing is top-notch. The whitewater rafting: well, you want to be an expert kayaker before attempting this...

The Encampment River Trail runs the length of the rugged and narrow river canyon. The lower 5 miles are relatively easy but the increasingly difficult terrain in the upper 10 miles more than make up for that easy stretch. And all along the way you'll be passing the ruins of old mining operations and old homestead cabins. The Encampment River Canyon is also inhabited by Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, elk and mule deer. The trail sees moderate use by hikers and fishermen in the summer and by big game hunters in the fall.