Elk Mountain, Mountain summit in Carbon County, Wyoming
Elk Mountain is a summit in the Medicine Bow Mountains reaching 11,162 feet in the northern section of this range. The peak is visible from Interstate 80 and marks the eastern-central landscape of Wyoming.
The peak was named after Sioux Chief Standing Elk and has served as a geographical reference point since the early territorial period. The name reflects the historical connection between Lakota peoples and this mountain region.
The mountain became the subject of legal debate in 2022 when hunters challenged access rules on public land. This dispute brought attention to questions about how people can use the landscape in this region.
Reaching the summit requires a four-wheel drive vehicle over unpaved roads with steep grades and significant elevation gain. Visitors should prepare for rough conditions and scout the route ahead of time.
The summit hosts a radio station called KBDY that broadcasts across a wide area using only 630 watts of power. The elevated position of the transmitter makes this exceptional coverage possible.
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