Link Trail

The Link is the gentle way into the Rawah high country, and it earns that reputation early: the first couple of miles roll out on excellent tread, half a mile of open meadow and wildflowers before the trail slips into lodgepole pine. This is beetle country — the standing gray snags are the work of the mountain pine beetle — and you'll step over a few logs where the path meets Jinks Creek and then Stub Creek, the first reliable water and, just past the crossing, the first good camping in the trees. It's an old route with a story: parts of it began as a wagon road for Wallis Link's turn-of-the-century ditch project to carry Rawah water over to the Poudre.

Higher up the forest opens into the Big McIntyre Burn, ground that still hasn't fully healed from two fires back in the 1940s, and the reward is the view — long looks back east and north over the Laramie River valley as the trail climbs steadily to a crest. Beyond it Douglas-fir and Engelmann spruce take over and the grade eases off toward the junctions with the Medicine Bow, McIntyre Lake, and finally the Rawah Trail at Rawah Lake #1. Come prepared for a full day or an overnight: water is spotty once you leave the creeks, afternoon lightning is a real hazard in the open burn and up at timberline, and the whole trail sits inside the Rawah Wilderness, so pack your patience and leave the wheels at home.

Trail Facts

Getting There

From Ted's Place, drive 51.6 miles up CO-14, then turn right onto the Laramie River Road (CR-103) at mile marker 71.5 and follow it about 15.5 miles to where the road splits. Bear left onto the Glendevey Road (marked CR-99 on the sign, CR-190 on maps) and go about 2.7 miles — the shared Link/McIntyre Trailhead is on the left, just past the Browns Park Campground. The trailhead has a large lot with room for stock trailers and toilets; toilets & stock water are also at the campground. The Laramie River Road isn't plowed, so access is roughly mid-June to mid-November.

Know Before You Go

• All Wilderness. The entire trail is inside the Rawah Wilderness — no bikes, no other wheeled conveyances, no motorized use of any kind, and group size is capped at 12 people and stock combined.
• Lightning. The Big McIntyre Burn and the alpine stretches are wide open; watch the afternoon sky and be off the exposed ground before storms build.
• Water is spotty. Count on Jinks Creek (0.6 mi), Stub Creek (1.8 mi), and a year-round tributary in the burn (5.4 mi); much of the middle is dry, so carry plenty and treat everything.
• Stub Creek crossing. You cross on a few logs at 1.8 miles — take care with a heavy pack, especially in high runoff.
• Stock feed rule. To keep noxious weeds out, stock must be fed only pellets or certified weed-free hay throughout the trip (start 72 hours before you ride in).
• Dogs on leash. Dogs must be on a hand-held leash with hikers (voice control with stock).
• Season. Accessible only once the Laramie River Road opens, roughly late June through mid-November — no winter access.