Sherman Hill summit – Buford, Wyoming, USA | Train Spotting Location

Perched at 8,013 feet above sea level, Sherman Hill summit is the loftiest point on Union Pacific’s historic transcontinental main line—a wind-swept vantage where railfans can watch heavy freights grind past granite outcrops against an expansive Wyoming sky; the combination of steady traffic, dramatic elevation, and unobstructed sightlines makes this one of the most legendary and rewarding train-watching sites in North America.

🛤️ The Trainspotting Experience

A typical visit delivers close-up views of trains cresting the grade after their long climb from either Laramie to the west or Cheyenne to the east. From public pull-offs along Hermosa Road and the parallel service roads, railfans can stand within a few dozen yards of the triple-tracked main. Expect to hear the deep throb of distributed-power locomotives working hard on eastbounds and the dynamic-brake roar of westbounds descending toward Laramie. Trains move at roughly 35–45 mph on the uphill stretch but can reach 60 mph on the gentler east side, giving observers ample time for photos yet plenty of action. Because consists often exceed 10,000 feet, you may watch helpers push past while the head-end power is already disappearing around the next curve—an immersive, surround-sound experience unique to mountain railroading.

🌄 Landscape, Setting and Local Atmosphere

Sherman Hill sits on a broad, open saddle in the Laramie Range. The landscape mixes weather-sculpted granite boulders, pale green sagebrush, and pockets of lodgepole pine. Elevation keeps summer temperatures moderate (usually 10–15 °F cooler than Cheyenne) and brings sudden afternoon thunderstorms with dramatic cloud formations. Winters are cold, with frequent snow that highlights rail steel against a white backdrop. Constant high-plains wind is part of the ambiance; pack layers even on clear days. The wide horizon and minimal light pollution lend an airy, almost timeless quality to long waits between trains.

🚂 Type and Frequency of Train Activity

Union Pacific owns and operates the route, and UP traffic dominates. On an average day 30–40 trains pass the summit, with peaks above 50 during coal surges. Expect long unit coal and grain trains from the Powder River Basin, double-stack intermodal strings, manifest freights, and occasional unit crude or ethanol sets. Distributed-power arrangements (mid-train and rear DPUs) are common, offering multiple locomotive photo opportunities per train. Passenger service is absent today—Amtrak’s California Zephyr uses the former Rio Grande route far to the south—so all movements are freight. BNSF detours are rare but possible during outages on its own Northern Transcon.

📸 Best Angles for Photos and What Railfans Enjoy Most

• Hermosa Road Overpass: A low bridge east of the summit lets photographers frame westbounds climbing beneath with the granite ridgeline behind them. Early morning light sidelight locomotives here.
• Dale Cut: Just west of the actual summit, a deep rock cut produces a natural theater. Afternoon sun floods the cut, illuminating locomotives as they burst into view.
• Wide-angle Panorama: Stand on one of the accessible granite knolls north of the tracks for sweeping shots of entire train lengths snaking across triple track with the Medicine Bow Mountains on the far horizon.
Golden and blue hours are exceptional; the thin air yields crisp colors, and the lack of tall vegetation keeps shadows short. Telephoto lenses capture heat shimmer rising from dynamic brakes, while drones (where permitted and kept well clear of railroad property) reveal S-curves otherwise invisible from ground level.

🕰️ Historical or Cultural Relevance

Completed in 1868, Sherman Hill was the engineering centerpiece of the original Union Pacific. The summit moved twice—first to Aspen Tunnel in 1901 and again when the modern track 3 opened in 1953—but the name endures as a symbol of conquering the Rocky Mountains. Remnants of the 19th-century grade can still be spotted south of today’s alignment, and a bronze monument to UP civil engineer Oakes Ames once stood nearby before being relocated for safety. The line’s legacy includes its role in U.S. westward expansion, wartime logistics, and the development of high-horsepower diesel locomotives tested on these grades.

🧭 What Makes This Spot Different from Others

Few railfan venues combine high elevation, triple-track density, heavy freight tonnage, and unobstructed sightlines in a single location. Unlike canyon settings where views are confined, Sherman Hill offers 360-degree vistas, letting visitors watch trains for minutes on end as they approach, pass, and recede. The auditory aspect—engines laboring in thin air, flange squeal on 2.2 percent grades, and wind gusts sweeping across open range—creates a multisensory backdrop rarely matched elsewhere in the U.S. rail network.

📚 Additional Resources

Union Pacific Railroad: Sherman Hill Grade Profile
Wyoming State Historical Society – Sherman Hill Article
American-Rails.com: Sherman Hill and the UP Main Line