Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming
The most common soil here is Storm, on about 8% of the land: a extremely flaggy loam, a balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. Eutrocryepts and Cowood come next.
About 70% of the land drains well, and 4% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 5% of it.
USDA rates 75% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 74% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 3% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 30% of it.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
The biggest mapped areas
The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is A (high infiltration, low runoff). The most common soil order is Inceptisols — young soils with minimal horizon development but more than Entisols. This report summarizes the major soil map units across the survey area to help you understand what to expect when buying, building, or gardening in Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubble land, Rock outcrop, and Eutrocryepts soils, 15 to 70 percent slopes | 390K | A | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Rock outcrop, Charpeak, and Cowood soils, 15 to 75 percent slopes | 180K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Storm-Basaltlake-Butchlake families, complex, 25 to 70 percent slopes | 148K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Arrowpeak, Cowood, Sigbird families, soils, 15 to 75 percent slopes | 116K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Agneston-McCall-families, Rubble land complex, 15 to 60 percent slopes | 90K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Telay-Storm-Needleton families, complex, 25 to 75 percent slopes | 86K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Jeru-Swapps-McCall families, complex, 7 to 40 percent slopes | 64K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Guffey, Ellena, Shadow families, soils, 15 to 80 percent slopes | 54K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rock outcrop-Rubble land complex | 53K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Cryaquepts, Cryaquolls, and Cryofluvents soils, 0 to 3 percent slopes, volcanic alluvium, frequently flooded | 43K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Presa-Garlet-Owlcreek families, complex, 20 to 50 percent slopes | 39K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Eutrocryepts soils and Rock outcrop, 15 to 80 percent slopes | 39K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Storm-Sigbird-Cuberant families, complex, 25 to 60 percent slopes | 39K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Eutrocryepts-Humic Eutrocryepts-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 55 percent slopes | 38K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rock outcrop-Elting-Jeru families, complex, 15 to 60 percent slopes | 38K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Rock outcrop, Rubble land, Eutrocryepts soils, 30 to 60 percent slopes | 35K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Jeru-Elting families-Rock outcrop complex, 7 to 60 percent slopes | 30K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Arrowpeak-Hoodle-Redcloud families, complex, 15 to 45 percent slopes | 29K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Typic Haplocryalfs-Owlcreek-Garlet families, complex, 10 to 30 percent slopes | 27K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Storm-Cuberant-Needleton families, complex, 15 to 60 percent slopes | 25K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
Soil Orders in This Area
The USDA classifies every soil into one of 12 soil orders. Here are the dominant orders found in this survey area.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 74% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes, poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 75% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Despite good drainage overall, limitations may stem from shallow bedrock, steep slopes, or seasonal conditions. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Well-drained soils on sloped terrain — good for most plants but watch for erosion. Terracing, contour planting, and mulching help retain moisture and topsoil. Drip irrigation is more effective than sprinklers on slopes.