In the Medicine Bow Mountains of southeastern Wyoming, a ribbon of highway climbs to nearly 11,000 feet, making the Snowy Range Scenic Byway one of the highest paved roads in the country. The drive packs an astonishing amount of alpine grandeur into a single afternoon.

The route winds past a string of jewel-like lakes cradled beneath the pale quartzite peaks that give the range its name. At the summit, short trails lead to overlooks where the mountains, still streaked with snow well into summer, reflect in still water surrounded by wildflower meadows.

Because of the altitude, the byway is only open for part of the year, typically clearing of snow by early summer and closing again in the fall. Even in July, a sudden storm can dust the peaks white, a reminder of how the range earned its name.

For travelers, the byway offers big scenery with easy access. Picnic spots, campgrounds, and gentle hikes let visitors linger, while anglers cast for trout in the high lakes. It is a quieter alternative to Wyoming's famous parks, a place where the crowds thin and the alpine world of the high Rockies opens up just steps from the car.