Wyoming · Rock climbing · Laramie

Nautilus

Nautilus in Wyoming has 131 climbing routes across 43 grades, featuring bouldering, sport, and trad.

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. MONGO assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

131 routes

5.3 – 5.12d

Trad · Bouldering · Mixed

Is Nautilus open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

Access Impact: Big Creek Lakes Dam Project
Agency alert covering Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest · USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
Trail & Access Impact: Stillwater Reservoir Project
Agency alert covering Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest · USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
Snowy Range - 2026 Active Vegetation Operations
Agency alert covering Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest · USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest

As of Oct 25, 11:40 am MDT · Source: USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Nautilus

Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

Jan
33° / 12°
7 wet
Feb
35° / 15°
7 wet
Mar
44° / 21°
8 wet
Apr
51° / 28°
11 wet
May
60° / 36°
12 wet
Jun
73° / 46°
10 wet
Jul
81° / 52°
11 wet
Aug
79° / 49°
10 wet
Sep
72° / 43°
8 wet
Oct
56° / 31°
8 wet
Nov
43° / 23°
7 wet
Dec
34° / 14°
7 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Laramie 4se, WY, 12.1 mi away at 7,390 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Nautilus is a climbing area in the Laramie Ranger District of Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in Wyoming, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with The Dungeon just 0.1 mile away and Main Outcrop and Holdout each about 0.2 mile off. Vedauwoo Campground is also within a quarter mile, making it the natural base for a day or longer in the area. The climbing here is varied, with 132 routes in total. The majority are trad routes, and the bouldering and mixed styles round out the mix. Grades run from 5.3 up to 5.12d, with a few boulder problems reaching V11. Some of the older routes have known first ascents, such as Slat (5.7, trad) and Hurley-Fowler (5.9, trad), while The Final Cut (5.12d, mixed) is one of the harder options. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical July highs reach about 81°F with lows near 52°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Laramie. That station sits roughly 1,000 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures up high run cooler. Vedauwoo Glen and Turtle Rock Loop are both within a mile for a walk after climbing. Pole Creek Group Campground is about 7 miles away for a longer stay.