CR291 Seminoe - Alcova Scenic Byway northern summit s(u)
This road goes over a high plains roller coaster along a
series of form rich sandstone mountains, the Pedro
Mountains, just east of the Atlantic Rim part of the
Continental Divide. (The sandstone erodes in the same way
as the Dakota Sandstone in Colorado, but I don't know if
this is actually the same formation) Trees are a rare
commodity here, but they can be spotted from a distance.
The road is a pleasant, peaceful contrast to many other
Wyoming raceways, across which people hurry in record time
to see the next Old Faithful Geyser eruption.
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1.(mile00.0,5710ft)
START-END NORTH: Fremont Canyon Rd crosses Fremont
River
2.(mile02.9,6060ft)profile turns hard right otno
CR291
3.(mile13.0,6900ft)TOP: point of highest elevation
4.(mile19.0,6540ft)jct with Werner Ranch Rd on left,
heading east
5.(mile21.2,6130ft)START-END SOUTH: low point on
road at Sage Creek crossing
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Approaches
From North. The profile starts at a
point, which is in contrast to the rest of the ride, and this
part of Wyoming in general. From FR408 Fremont Canyon Road you
don't see the horizon. Instead tight turns wind through a cozy
canyon, free of the sometimes "oppressive openness".
It's time to enjoy views of the last trees from close up.
As the route doubles back onto CR291 heading north, trees
recede in the distance and take their rightful place in
magnificent sweeping views. Let's just hope it doesn't get too
hot, so the missing shade does not become a major factor.
Alcova Reservoir below is shut in by colorful triangular
wedges of significant geology.
Climbing in rolls and descends the "paved" (with a
large percentage of holes) road climbs a little higher with
every roller, and every roller makes the Pedro Mountains to
the north and the Granite Mountains behind them appear, as if
set on a pedestal of a high plain. The pavement lasts to about
maybe a mile of what turns out to be the real top, after
examining the profile afterwards.
From South. (described downwards)
Several turnoffs are signed as going to ranches and there
are probably mountain biking between there and the Pathfinder
Reservoir, although it may be quite sandy. The profile follows
the main road, which descends past Dome Rock. This is an
"stand alone outcrop" that stand like a monument.
The road now becomes a little sandier and contains more
washboard.
What looks like a series of rock chimneys to the west,
shimmering in the heat, turns out to be the eroded shoreline
of Pathfinder Reservoir. The turnoff to there gets sandy
quickly. But before reaching the sand, there is a small oasis
like group of trees, giving shade for free. The profile
reaches a low point where the main road ( not the Pathfinder
Reservoir turnoff) crosses yet another creek named Sage at a
farm. Seeing a small rivulet of water at the very bottom of
such a wide expansive valley is always an amazing sight.
Dayride with this point as highest summit
PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED
( < Separation Peak
s(u) | CR409
Pathfinder Rd s(u) > )
CR291 Seminoe - Alcova Scenic Byway northern summit x2 :
low point in Fremont Canyon Rd near Platte River bridge
<> FR408 Fremont Canyon Rd west <> CR291 Seminoe
Alcova Scenic Byway north <> CR291 Seminoe Alcova Scenic
Byway northern summit s(u) <> partial out and back on
unmarked path towards Pathfinder Reservoir << turnaround
point on main road a little beyond Sage Creek Crossing:
45.6miles with 3620ft of climbing in 5:07hrs (Basecamp numbers
from Garmin etrex30 data: m5:15.7.25)

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