Public lands often become contentious subjects concerning the balance of economy, nature, and history.

I recently went up to the area to check out the landscape. I was met with an enjoyable view of Laramie Valley.  The drive up was fairly easy. My car definitely does not have four-wheel drive, which is really saying something about the accessibility of the vista. As I reached the end of the road, I drove past a couple playing with their dog. Foot traffic might not be as high as other sites in the national forest, but the location is known by a lucky few. As I walked down the road, I noticed a fence with a no trespassing sign. I wondered who owned the property. Once I got back to my home, I went online to the Albany County Assessor’s office which showed that the private property around the vista was owned by the local cement and cattle company. Though the surrounding property might be privately owned, the vista itself still remains in the possession of the National Forest Service, allowing access to anyone.

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