Riding Legally on Warren Livestock Land in 1998
I don’t really remember the first time I rode a bicycle on Warren Livestock’s section of land just east of of Laramie. The trails started where the golf course ended so we could pedal from our homes up to Pilot Hill, spending hours enjoying the view of the Laramie Valley. It was in the early 1990’s when the old owner of Warren Livestock allowed recreational hiking and mountain biking on the trail systems that were created, mostly, by sheep. We were living the American Dream. We would ride out of our back door and into the wild, giving every Laramigo the opportunity to feel like a modern day Thoreau. (Now we have to deal with the Irony of living a full 9 miles from Happy Jack.)
Then one day our American Dream was interrupted by the hard working’s of another’s American Dream. The old owner of Warren Livestock sold his company to a new American Dreamer who was forced to make some decisions that didn’t fit with our old way of thinking. It really changed the face of mountain biking in Laramie, because a law abiding citizen just lost the luxury of a back yard playground.
Fast forward 20 years, and today we sit here in the Laramie valley looking east to a new sunrise. Watching as the rays break the horizons of a new tomorrow. A tomorrow where citizens of Laramie once again have a playground in their back yard that connects us, to the USFS section of land known as Pilot Knob, or Pilot Hill! Thanks to the hard work of many of our local citizens, and the current owners of the Warran Livestock company, we have our playground back. Limited access is currently open. (See Map Below)
Here is how you can access the Pilot Hill Land Purchase
Access from Laramie: East end of Willett Drive; North end of Boulder Drive; 45th and Crow. Please respect surrounding homes and private properties. Do not block driveways or residential parking.
Access from USFS Pole Mountain Unit: Follow USFS 703 Rd to the north end. (Dispersed parking only and recommended at 703G spur road.) Enter the Pilot Hill area through the walk thru gate at end of USFS 703. NO ACCESS off 703C, 703G, 703F roads at this time.
Bottom to Top Route: Follow existing 2 track road; Trail #4 on map.
Route is 12 miles round trip - plan accordingly. Carry water / snacks / prepare for weather / recreate with a partner / inform a friend of your recreational plans.
Route will be utilized by runners, hikers, bikers and horse-riders. Respect trail etiquette.
