Laramie Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laramie Peak |
|
|---|---|
Southern face of Laramie Peak
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 10,275 ft (3,132 m) |
| Prominence | 3,312 ft (1,009 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Albany County, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Parent range | Laramie Range |
| Topo map | USGS Laramie Peak |
Laramie Peak is the tallest and most noticeable mountain in the Laramie Range of Wyoming. It stands at an elevation of 10,275 feet (3,132 m), making it the only peak in its range to be over 10,000 feet (3,000 m) tall.
You can see Laramie Peak from very far away! People have spotted it from about 100 miles (160 km) away at the top of Scotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska. It's also visible from many towns in Wyoming, including Wheatland, Douglas, Rock River, and near the cities of Laramie and Cheyenne.
What's in a Name?
This impressive mountain was named after Jacques La Ramee. He was a French-Canadian fur trader who lived in the area during the 1820s. Sadly, he was later found dead near the Laramie River, which also carries his name.
A Landmark in History
Laramie Peak was a very important landmark for early settlers. These pioneers traveled west on famous routes like the Oregon Trail and the Mormon Trail. After they reached Scotts Bluff, the peak would appear on the horizon.
For more than a week, this mountain guided the travelers. It signaled that they were leaving the flat plains and getting closer to the Rocky Mountains.
Mark Twain's View
The famous writer Mark Twain even wrote about Laramie Peak in his 1871 book, Roughing It. He described seeing the mountain: "We passed Fort Laramie in the night, and on the seventh morning out we found ourselves in the Black Hills, with Laramie Peak at our elbow (apparently) looming vast and solitary -- a deep, dark, rich indigo blue in hue, so portentously did the old colossus frown under his beetling brows of storm-cloud. He was thirty or forty miles away, in reality, but he only seemed removed a little beyond the low ridge at our right."
Reaching the Summit
There's a trail that leads to the top of Laramie Peak. It starts at the Friend Park Campground. The trail is about 5 miles long. It climbs from an elevation of 7,200 feet all the way up to 10,276 feet.
At the very top of the peak, you'll find several antennas. There are also containers for transmitters and a special platform for helicopters.
