Snowy Range Pass Shuts Down: Highway 130 Closed Until Spring

The original story by Doug Randall for KGAB AM 650.

If you were hoping for one last drive over the Snowy Range, you’re out of luck until next year.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation has officially closed Wyoming Highway 130 over the high country of the Snowy Range Mountains for the winter season. The gates are now down on the stretch between mileposts 36 and 48 — from the Green Rock trailhead on the east side to just above Ryan Park on the west.

At more than 10,800 feet in elevation, that section of road — also known as the Snowy Range Scenic Byway — gets hammered by winter weather. Between deep snow, strong winds and very little traffic, WYDOT says keeping it open just isn’t practical, so it’s closed every year until spring.

This year’s timing is nothing unusual. WYDOT noted that:

• WYO 130 closed on Nov. 26 in 2023;
• Nov. 10 in 2022;
• Nov. 11 in 2021;
• Nov. 14 in 2020.

The road will stay closed until sometime in the spring of 2026, depending on when crews from Laramie and Saratoga can safely plow it out and reopen it.

Until then, if you’re heading between Laramie and Saratoga or into the Snowies, you’ll need to stick to lower routes — and save that scenic byway cruise for next year.