Unit 13 Encampment River (Area 13)
Encampment River timber and wilderness on the Continental Divide
Sierra Madre · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
304
sq mi
Public land
74%
approx.
Elevation
7,100–10,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Area 13 climbs off the high desert plains south of Encampment into the heart of the Sierra Madre Range, straddling the Continental Divide to the Colorado line. It is one of the better general-license elk units in south-central Wyoming, with heavy timber, two wilderness areas, and good elk numbers, though low draw odds reflect the pressure that reputation brings. Roughly three-quarters public land, most of it contiguous national forest in the high country.
Terrain
Gently contoured sage foothills at the lower edges giving way to steep, rugged, densely timbered ridges along the Sierra Madre crest and Continental Divide.
Cover: Sagebrush, grass and mountain shrub on the lower benches; lodgepole, limber and ponderosa pine, subalpine fir and scattered aspen pockets on the timbered slopes.
Landmarks: Encampment River · Huston Park Wilderness · Encampment River Wilderness · Continental Divide · Bridger Peak · Battle Highway (WY 70)
Access
Core high country is contiguous Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with good public access, including two designated wilderness areas that are foot/horse only. The lower foothill and basin fringes mix BLM, state and private ranch parcels where the southern Wyoming land-grant checkerboard appears; verify section lines and avoid corner-crossing questions where public and private sections meet. Battle Highway (WY 70) over the range closes seasonally with snow.
Managers: USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, BLM, WY state trust, private ranch
Access points: Bottle Creek Campground · Lakeview Campground · Encampment River Campground · WY 70 / Battle Highway · Continental Divide Trail
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe signature quarry, part of the Sierra Madre elk herd. Good numbers with genuine trophy potential in the thick timber, but heavy hunting pressure and low draw odds. Elk concentrate in and along the national forest timber.
- →Hunt the dark timber benches and pockets where pressured bulls hide
- →Glass sage/timber edges at first and last light
- →Work the wilderness areas to escape road hunters
- →Push higher and more remote as pressure builds through the season
Mule Deer
common opportunityWell distributed across the public parcels, from sage foothills to the aspen and mountain-shrub transition. A solid secondary opportunity while elk hunting.
- →Glass the aspen and shrub transition zones morning and evening
- →Still-hunt timber edges
- →Look to higher basins early, lower benches as snow pushes deer down
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPresent only on the lower sage plains at the northern and eastern fringe of the unit; this is fundamentally a mountain elk area, not a pronghorn destination.
- →Focus on open sage flats below the forest
- →Glass from high two-tracks
- →Confirm land status before setting up in checkerboard sections
Pro tips
- →Get off the roads and into the two wilderness areas to find undisturbed elk
- →Plan for the Battle Highway closing with snow and have an alternate access route
- →Concentrate on dark-timber pockets where pressured bulls bed
- →Carry good optics and be ready to hike, terrain goes rugged fast above the benches
- →Cross-reference section lines on the lower fringe before hunting the checkerboard
Watch out for
- !Southern Wyoming land-grant checkerboard on the lower BLM/private fringe, corner-crossing exposure
- !Private ranch inholdings and boundaries along the foothills
- !Early snow closing the Battle Highway and high roads
- !Steep, timbered terrain and long pack-outs from the backcountry
- !Low draw odds and heavy hunter pressure on a well-known unit
Logistics
Base out of Encampment, Riverside or Saratoga for fuel, lodging and supplies. National forest campgrounds (Bottle Creek, Lakeview, Encampment River) put you close to the timber. Certified weed-free hay is required on national forest land. Roads are good but the high crossings can drift shut early.
Nearest towns: Encampment, Riverside, Saratoga
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:
Research sources: WGFD Elk Hunting Guide · GOHUNT Wyoming Elk Unit 13 - Encampment River · RuggedMaps Elk Hunt Area 13 - Encampment River
FAQ
- How big is Unit 13 in Wyoming?
- Unit 13 (Encampment River (Area 13)) covers about 304 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,100 to 10,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 13?
- Approximately 74% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, BLM, WY state trust, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 13?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 13 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.