Travel Blog - Learning To Travel

Staying In The Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower | Wyoming

In the late summer of 2022, we spent two nights in the Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower in Medicine Bow National Forest near Albany, Wyoming.

YouTube player — Take a video tour of the Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower in Wyoming.

During the 1930s, there was a bit of a lookout tower boom in the United States, with over 3,000 built to keep an eye out for smoke in America’s forests. The Civilian Conservation Corps built most, but detailed records are tough to come by. The Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower was most likely built in that era and is unique due to its timber construction because most towers were built using a metal frame and housing.

I could not find out when this tower went out of service. I did learn that it was in 1977 the tower was refurbished and reopened as a cabin on stilts visitors can rent. Reservations are made at Recreation.gov at the cost of $40.00 a night. The rental season is from June 1 to September 30.

Spruce Mnt Lookout Tower

• $40 per night
• Available June through September
• Booked on a 6-month rolling basis

Click to Book

Dates to book open up exactly six months in advance, so it can be tricky to get the exact date you are looking for. Joyce would log in every morning and attempt to book but was often denied. Finally, we booked two nights in late September, which turned out to be an ideal time to stay in the fire lookout tower.

If you watch our video on staying in the Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower, you’ll see that the last few miles to the tower are via a gravel road, but it was completely doable in our 2-wheel drive, low clearance Mazda MPV.

The most important thing you need to know is that water is unavailable on-site, so you will need to bring your own. No electricity either, but the tower does have propane for cooking, heating, and lighting. An old propane refrigerator can be found in the tower, but it is there to tease you as it has not worked in many years.

At the base of the tower, you’ll find a clean but primitive pit toilet, a picnic table, and a fire ring. Two people are allowed to stay in the tower, and up to ten are allowed to camp near the base. There is a locked gate at the entrance to deter folks from wandering into your tower stay. Though it does happen.

Overall we would describe our time at the tower as quiet and peaceful. Joyce was recovering from a severe ankle sprain, so we kept our activity to a minimum and enjoyed every minute out in nature. Daryle did some exploring around the lookout tower and found what might have been the original outhouse. From a time when you could bring a friend to the privy with you. 🤣

All jokes aside, we do recommend the Spruce Mountain Fire Tower. It is fairly easy to get to and not too far from Colorado’s front range. There is plenty of things to do near the tower, or you can relax, take in a bit of history, and enjoy the fresh air. If you’d like a tour of the lookout tower, click here to be taken to that spot in our video.

Is Salida Colorado Worth Visiting?

Destinations

Salida, Colorado, considers itself “The Heart of the Rockies,” but is Salida worth visiting?

Hints of Spring had us itching to get out and do a bit of traveling. April is prime “mud season” here in Colorado. The good skiing is all but done, though the mountains have not warmed up enough to get out in the alpine heights. Salida, Colorado, is a town known for mountain biking year-round, so we thought we’d take a little road trip and see what Salida has to offer.

We arrived in the early afternoon, headed straight for Salida’s downtown area, and quickly found ourselves in the “Creative District.” Which is basically a state designation administered by the City of Salida’s Arts and Culture Department. This designation certifies that Salida contributes to Colorado’s economy through creativity, culture, and the arts. This means that there are many great galleries and shops for the visitor to enjoy and public art sprinkled throughout the downtown area.

Downtown is also a place to discover the Salida River Trail. A roughly 2-mile trail along the Arkansas River. It is an easy, pretty flat trail that is perfect for mixing in a bit of nature with the city.

Mountain biking is the main activity that we headed to Salida for. Joyce read about a gravel ride to a small mountain town called Turret, and we rented a pair of electric mountain bikes to experience it for ourselves. E-bikes were a new experience for us, and though we like to do active things, it was nice to have the assistance of a powered bike. The guy at the bike shop referred to it as the “hand of God.” It was a pleasant ride up a mountain road with very little traffic and amazing views as we got above the treeline. And it was an absolute blast coasting back down into Salida on our return trip.

We crafted a video about that ride alone that you can watch here.

The Mount Shavano Trout Hatchery was not on our radar until we saw the sign for it in town, so we thought we check it out, and we are so glad we did. The hatchery is one of the largest trout units in Colorado and produces approximately 500,000 catchable (10-inch) trout and about 2 million sub-catchable fish (2−5 inches) per year. Species such as rainbow, Snake River cutthroat, cutthroat-rainbow crosses, and kokanee salmon are raised at Mount Shavano.

But the fun part is getting to feed all those hungry little fish. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a very friendly ranger who offered us each our own bucket of fish food. We spent the next hour or so exploring the hatchery and tossing food into the pools, creating little feeding frenzies that never got old. We can only imagine how enjoyable this would be for kids.

During a visit to Salida, it is impossible to miss the large “S” on the side of the nearby hill. That is Tenderfoot Hill, and it is full of trails and beautiful views of the surrounding area. If you are not up for a hike, simply drive up Spriral Drive, which will get you almost to the top. It seems they’ve closed the final leg of the road and built a sizeable parking lot just short of the peak.

There is no shortage of activities and things to do in Salida, even during Colorado’s mud season. Because of this, we would say that Salida, Colorado is worth visiting. Check out our video where we highlight seven things to do in Salida.

Exploring Reno Nevada

Our Travel Stories

Known as “The Biggest Little City In The World,” Reno, Nevada, has a lot more to offer than just casinos.

We found ourselves in Reno because we wanted to experience and make a video about Amtrak’s roomette sleeper cars and Reno was just the right distance from Denver to make that happen.

Click here to watch: Fun Things To Do In Reno, Nevada

There are a lot of hotels and places to stay in Reno, we found ourselves at the Silver Legacy because the price was good and the location was within walking distance of the things we wanted to do. Being a casino hotel the biggest downside was the extra distance to get to your room from the street that all casino hotels have. Other than that the room was nice and the staff was great.

Reno was the first place we came across “rolled ice cream” or “stir-fried ice cream.” Rolled Mountain Creamery gave us a great introduction to this unique take on frozen desserts.

Joyce getting ready to enjoy her rolled ice cream.

Reno is also known for its murals, so we spent a pleasant morning exploring midtown and the many murals in the area.

While exploring the mural-covered streets we happened upon the Pangoline Cafe. A cute little modern cafe that offered fresh made Turkish delights. So good! Would be tempting to return to Reno just to go back there but thankfully they do ship.

Another unique thing we discovered on our visit was the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall that is on the side of the Whitney Peak Hotel. Rising 164ft straight into the sky this climbing wall is like no other. Joyce did spend some time climbing but did not feel she was ready to go all the way to the top.

Joyce at the Basecamp Climbing Gym in Reno, Nevada.

Next, it was on to the National Automobile Museum. A very well-thought-out auto museum that began as the private collection of Bill Harrah, the founder of Harrah’s Hotels and Casinos. It is not a huge museum and we probably spent about 2 to 3 hours browsing the collection.

Just a glimpse of the huge car collection.

Finally, we wrapped up our time in Reno with a visit to the brewery district. Sadly though there was only one brewery open the night we went out, Lead Dog Brewing. It was a nice chill night and we were able to throw back a few and watch the locals play trivia.

All in all, Reno was a fun 3-day trip and we would love to take the Amtrak again for another visit in the future.

How Hard Is The Manitou Incline?

Hikes

Whether you call it the Manitou Incline, Manitou Springs Incline, or simply “The Incline,” you might be wondering if you are up for the challenge. Though it can look intimidating many people of different fitness levels make their way to the top every day.

Manitou Incline History

The Manitou Incline was built as a funicular in 1907. (Funicular is just a fancy word for a railroad built on a steep incline.) The funicular was a way to service water tanks at the top of the mountain and it was in service up until 1990. Since the closure as a railway, there were plenty of disputes and legal battles in regard to what should be done with the abandoned tracks. It was not until 2013 that The Incline became an official hiking trail thanks to an act of Congress.

Read about it here: President Signs into Law Bill to Clear Up Manitou Incline Legal Status

Ready To Climb?

Now that you know a bit about why the Manitou Incline is there you can decide if you want to take on the challenge. The first thing you should know is that reservations are required. Reservations are free but during popular times they can fill up and be “sold out.”

Manitou Springs Incline Reservations

The good news is that the Manitou Springs Incline is only .9 miles in length. But every review or trail listing we came across lists the difficulty level as “hard” or “extreme.” After all, it is 2,744 steps straight up a mountainside. Most people take about an hour or a little more to reach the summit.

You’ll start at an elevation of 6,530 ft and the summit is 8,550 ft with an average grade of 41%. With each step, the scenery just gets better and better so you have that to look forward to.

Also, know that there are a few bail-out points on the way up that allow you to take the Barr Trail down which is much more gradual and easier on the knees.

We should also mention they have a strict no pets policy on the incline.

You Can Do It! (probably)

We believe the Manitou Incline is a unique experience and worth the attempt if you are able. Keep in mind you can take as long as you need or turn around if you decide it is not for you. You will still get some amazing views of Colorado even if you do not go up very far.

Speaking of Colorado… Our weather, especially in and around the mountains, is very unpredictable. Bring layers and be prepared for any season of the year no matter what time you visit. Drink plenty of water, wear shoes, and make sure you’re ready for the thin air at 8,000+ feet.

More Manitou Incline Resources

AllTrails is a great resource because it will have up-to-date reviews from people who have hiked it recently.

Also if you want a more relaxing way up the mountain consider the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway.

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Our Travel Stories

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is one of the easiest and most relaxing ways to summit a Colorado 14er.

This train line was the idea of Zalmon G. Simmons, who, after a miserable two-day trip in 1888 on the back of a mule, decided there needed to be a better, more civilized way up the mountain. Rail operations began in 1890, but a train did not summit Pikes Peak until June of 1891. Over 100 years later, The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway runs daily, taking people to the top of America’s Mountain.

Recently we have started to develop an interest in trains, so we thought after 20 plus years of living in Colorado, it was time to check out if The Pikes Peak Cog Railway was worth it.

Our trip to Manitou Springs was in late October, but the train was still full. We bought our tickets well in advance, and we could reserve our seats for an added fee. Paying extra to sit together was super annoying, but it ensured that we got a window seat on the three-seat side which we feel is the best side.

The train left on time, and the ride up was pleasant though the seats are small and a bit cramped feeling. During the trip up, a conductor keeps everyone informed on the railway’s scenery, landmarks, and history. With so much to look at and learn about, you are at the top of Pikes Peak before you know it.

There is a brand new Pikes Peak Visitor Center waiting on the summit with clean bathrooms and hot donuts. We headed straight to the donuts because we read that sometimes they sell out quickly, but there was plenty for everybody that morning. There is also coffee, hot chocolate, hot dogs, and other snacks available and a gift shop, of course.

Please pay attention to the departure time because the train will leave the summit without you, as we witnessed that day. As the train began to move, frantic tourists ran on the platform, beating on the glass as the train just kept rolling. We were told they would need to wait until the next train to get down the mountain.

Overall, we feel The Pikes Peak Cog Railway was a worthwhile experience. It was a relaxing way to spend an autumn Colorado morning.

Here are some other notes we wanted to share:

Parking can be a challenge in Manitou Springs. We left our car at our hotel and walked to the train but expect to pay when you drive to the station.
It is possible to hike up Pikes Peak and take the train down, but there is not a guarantee the train will have room for you, so don’t count on it. It would be best to contact The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway before your hike if that is your plan.
Altitude can be an issue even for a brief stay on top of the mountain. So drink plenty of water leading up to your train trip to prepare for this. (Check out this article on preparing for a mountain vacation.)

Popo Agie Falls Trail, Easy & Beautiful Hike Near Lander, Wyoming

Destinations, Hikes, Our Travel Stories

Popo Agie Falls Trail can be found just a few miles outside of Lander, Wyoming, an easy hike with a big reward!

This trail is highly rated on AllTrails with a solid 4.7 and we would agree, in fact, we gave it a 5-star rating. It is rare to find a trail that is so close to a city that is this beautiful but not crowded. The only thing that would make it better is if it was a loop trail and not an out and back trail but that is just getting too picky.