Centennial

Tiny Snowy Range gateway town west of Laramie, with alpine drives, trails, and ski slopes.

Centennial is a tiny mountain town west of Laramie, sitting where the plains start climbing into the Snowy Range. The town itself is only a handful of streets, but the setting is strong enough to carry it.

In summer and early autumn, the reason to come is the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, which climbs past lakes, trailheads, and high granite views toward Medicine Bow Peak. In winter, Snowy Range Ski Area keeps the town useful after the high road closes.

Centennial is not a resort town in the polished sense. It is a base camp with a few places to eat, a small museum in the old depot, and immediate access to Medicine Bow National Forest. If you have a spare day in Laramie, this is one of the easiest ways to trade cafe time for mountains.

Guide

Getting There

Centennial is on Wyoming Highway 130, about 30 miles west of Laramie. The road from Laramie to Centennial is open year-round, but the high Snowy Range section west toward Saratoga usually closes in winter.

You need a car. This is a mountain gateway town, and the best sights sit along the highway and forest roads beyond the centre.

Guide

Things to Do

Centennial's sights are really Snowy Range sights. Drive the byway when it is open, stop at lakes and overlooks, hike if the weather is stable, and use town for food, fuel, and a small dose of local history.

Guide

When to Go

Late June through September is the main season for the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, hiking, lake stops, and high-country picnics. Winter changes the visit completely: the pass road closes, but skiing and snowmobiling become the reason to come. Weather can shift fast at altitude in any season.