McIntyre Trail

The McIntyre is the friendly way into the far north end of the Rawah Wilderness, and it earns that reputation honestly: much of it rides an old roadbed — the abandoned 1897 State Road that once hauled wagons from Livermore over the range to Walden — so the tread runs ten feet wide and climbs at a grade your legs will thank you for. The first mile traverses a dry hillside into the Wilderness, then drops to a sturdy bridge over McIntyre Creek, and from there the creek keeps you company clear to mile four. Expect healthy, open forest, aspen groves, patches of fern and wild rose, and around mile 2.4 a meadow floored thick with columbines in midsummer.

How far you go is up to you. The lower trail is a gentle 4.7 miles to the McIntyre Creek Trail junction and makes a satisfying out-and-back on its own; press on and it's 9.6 miles all the way to Ute Pass and the Medicine Bow Trail, gaining a little under 1,500 net feet with a few steep pitches where the trail detours around drainages. This is moose country — give them a wide, quiet berth — and while there's water at nine creek crossings, treat every drop. It's a Rawah Wilderness trail, so no bikes and no motors, groups capped at twelve; and because it hides behind the Laramie River Road, plan on early June at the earliest, once that road opens for the season.

Trail Facts

Getting There

From Ted's Place, drive 51.6 miles up CO-14 and turn right onto the Laramie River Road (CR-103) at mile marker 71.5. Follow it about 15.5 miles to where the road splits, then bear left onto Glendevey Road (signed CR-99, shown as CR-190 on some maps) and go about 2.7 miles. The Link/McIntyre trailhead is on the left, just past the Browns Park Campground. The trailhead has toilets and a large lot with pull-through parking for stock trailers; there are also toilets at the campground. The Laramie River Road is closed in winter, so this is an early-June-onward trail.

Know Before You Go

• Moose country. Moose are the marquee wildlife here — keep well back, keep dogs leashed and close, and never get between a cow and her calf.
• Wilderness rules. This is the Rawah Wilderness: no bikes, no e-bikes, no motorized use, and group size is capped at 12 people and stock combined.
• Dogs on leash. Hikers must keep dogs on a hand-held leash (voice control is allowed only with stock).
• Use the bridge. Cross McIntyre Creek at the sturdy bridge near mile 1.2 — the ford is very rocky and hard on horses.
• Water, but treat it. The trail crosses nine small creeks with reliable water from about mile 1 to mile 4, plus springs near Ute Pass — filter or treat all of it.
• Pick your distance. The lower trail to the McIntyre Creek Trail junction is a moderate 4.7 miles one-way; the full run to Ute Pass is 9.6 miles with a few steep drainage detours.
• Short season. The trail hides behind the Laramie River Road, which opens around early June and closes for winter — check access before you drive out.