Turtle Rock Loop

The Turtle Rock Loop at Vedauwoo Recreation Area navigates through one of Wyoming's most visually dramatic landscapes, where massive rounded tors of Sherman Granite emerge from the high-plains terrain in forms that defy expectation. The name Vedauwoo derives from an Arapaho word meaning "earthborn spirits," and the bizarre, seemingly gravity-defying stacks of rock that characterize this area make it easy to understand why indigenous peoples regarded this landscape as supernatural.

The trail weaves between and beneath immense granite formations that balance improbably atop one another, their smooth rounded surfaces the result of exfoliation weathering that has been peeling away surface layers for hundreds of millions of years. The rock's coarse crystalline texture, studded with large feldspar crystals, catches the light in constantly changing ways throughout the day, creating a dynamic visual experience with every visit.

Vedauwoo is internationally renowned as a rock climbing destination, and the Turtle Rock Loop passes many of the most popular climbing areas, where routes of extraordinary difficulty have attracted climbers from around the world. The sight of climbers working their way up seemingly featureless vertical crack systems is both inspiring and entertaining. Elk meadows adjoin the rocky terrain, with herds frequently visible at dawn and dusk. The combination of geological spectacle, climbing culture, and abundant wildlife makes this loop one of Wyoming's finest short hiking experiences.