The Forest Service has opened Forest Road 700, or Vedauwoo Road on Pole Mountain in Medicine Bow National Forest for motorized travel and designated dispersed camping in time for the holiday weekend.

This year, the Forest Service says visitors should be aware that the designation of the dispersed camping sites along the popular stretch of Forest Road is new this year, according to a Forest Service That means that signage will now direct recreationists where they can legally camp along the Vedauwoo Road and its spur roads.

There are also new camp rules, which visitors should also be aware of. They are as follows:

  • Open to all types of RVs and tent campers
  • Free, but sites have no services
  • Camping at designated sites or Vedauwoo Campground only
  • All vehicles and campfires must be within 50 feet of site marker at all times, including trailers and RVs (100 feet at Group sites).
  • One party per site
  • Sites are first come, first served
  • No more than two vehicles per site (pull-behind trailers and UTVs not included)
  • Groups greater than 8 people or two vehicles must use group sites marked with a “G” on site marker
  • Length of stay is limited to 16 days at a given site
  • Day-use visitors should avoid parking in designated dispersed camping sites
  • No fires, grills or stoves except at designated sites
  • Do not establish new fire rings
  • Do not blacken or deface rocks or other features
  • No overnight parking except at occupied designated sites and identified overnight parking areas
  • All trash must be packed out
  • All human and animal waste must be packed out or buried greater than six inches deep

To help with public awareness of the new rules, signage has been posted at various locations along the Vedauwoo Road and brochures are available. The rules are part of the Pole Mountain Travel Management decision signed in July 7, 2017 and are meant to improve the visitor experience by spreading the campers out, preventing environmental damage from campsite proliferation and over-use.

For more information on Medicine Bow National Forest Recreation, visit the web page.

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