Laramie side or Saratoga side?

[IowaSnowCat]

We have been on the Laramie side. Not much to climb, alot of wind but alot of meadows and untouched areas down below. Liked it but curious about the Saratoga side, never been there. Where to stay? What's the riding difference?

We are planning a trip right after Christmas. Your input would be great!

 

[clatla]

You will be riding the same area from either side. I have stayed at Tenmile, Albany and in Centennial. You can ride from your doorstep at either Albany or Tenmile. I still think Centennial is the best. Yes you have to trailer up to Green Rock but that way you have fuel and tools not to far from the good stuff. Just my $.02

 

[Bubba]

riding

If you stay in centennial and trailer up to green rock you are only 5 ro 6 miles to the big stuff. there is lot's off big hill's to play on just watch for avi's. and you can get to the back side in no time at all from there.

 

[sclwald]

We have been on the Laramie side. Not much to climb

You are crazy. Must have not went in the right direction or something and missed the big mountain range. Just giving you a hard time. But no matter what side you park on you are riding the same area.

 

[IowaSnowCat]

When we went, the wind blew every day and we couldn't see in front of our sleds so we stayed towards the bottom and played in meadows for 3 days. That got old real fast, especially when I am looking for climbing terrain. Maybe next time we go we will get lucky and the wind wont blow haha.

 

[WyoRMK]

Its not called the Blowies for nothing!

Out of the all the times I have been up this season, I would bet only a handful (4 or 5) have not been windy and low visibility. Guess it is something you get used to. That being said the riding on the west side is better, you just have to cross Libby to get there!

 

[WIS.REV]

I've stayed in Centennial and I've stayed at Tenmile. I liked the west side(Tenmile) better. You will ride a lot of the same areas though.

 

[Hawkeye]

When we went, the wind blew every day and we couldn't see in front of our sleds so we stayed towards the bottom and played in meadows for 3 days. That got old real fast, especially when I am looking for climbing terrain. Maybe next time we go we will get lucky and the wind wont blow haha.

You need to follow someone that knows the area, or get a guide for a day. You had to have been within a couple miles of good climbing. When its windy you only have a couple miles of bad visibility, but sometimes you need to follow ski to flap so you don't get lost. West side the ribs are excellent, East side the pizza is the best, beer is cold both ways, Good Luck

 

[snosub]

On a windy day there is not doubt that a short run on a wooded trail to get to great riding in the trees from the west side is far better than fighting the open areas on the east side. We used to stay in Cenntenial but now stay in Ryan Park. The only downside of the west side is it is farther and I-80 can be bad between Laramie and Saratoga.

 

[Mark's RMK]

Saratoga

We have stayed in Saratoga the last two winters. This year we had terrible driving on I-80 between Laramie and Saratoga with huge winds and really icy road.

Could we have went around the bottom via Albany and around to Encampment and missed the icy roads? I thought hard about it but there was so much traffic in both directions at Laramie I figured it must not be too bad. It was slow white knuckle with blowing snow in the dark following the semi ahead of us.

I like Saratoga. We did Laramie once but it's a long ways to drive each day. Saratoga lets you go to Encampment and ride the Sierra Madres as well.

 

[TurboT]

Like the majority have posted, the Laramie side via Green Rock is almost always blowing snow! Very hard to see @ times going across Libby Flats and down to Lake Marie also known as the Toilet Bowl, etc, etc. If you're coming up @ or around christmas the Saratoga side is great to ride up also. The best riding on the mountain as most know is usually the west side. More broken terrain and trees keep the wind speed lower. BUT, if the weather is good and there are blue bird skies with fresh on the ground the east side is a blast with vast amounts of open country! If you follow trail "N" on the west side for a ways you'll have an awesome ride.