Medicine Bow North Trail

This is the far, quiet corner of the Rawah — the kind of trail where you'll likely see no one but an elk and, come fall, the odd hunter. The Medicine Bow North follows the crest of the Medicine Bow Range, starting in timber before it breaks into islands of wind-stunted krummholz and open alpine meadow. The middle miles ride right at 10,800 feet with the whole world falling away on either side: North Park and Mount Zirkel to the west, the Snowy Range off to the north, Deadman Mountain back to the east. The tread is bare rock and gravel, in fine shape precisely because so few boots find it, and above the trees your only trail markers are cairns stacked two to four feet high.

Getting here is half the adventure, and we won't sugar-coat it — the north approach needs a high-clearance, all-wheel-drive rig and a willingness to grind out the miles on rough county roads, then a two-mile walk down old Medicine Bow Road just to reach the trail's north end at the Wilderness boundary. Plan on roughly five hours from Fort Collins before your boots even hit dirt, and don't come until Laramie River Road opens in late June. Up on that exposed spine there's no shelter when the weather turns, so watch the sky — alpine lightning is the real hazard here — carry your water (it's scarce), and give yourself a full, unhurried day for one of the most solitary walks in the range.

Trail Facts

Getting There

The northern approach is for high-clearance, all-wheel-drive vehicles only. Drive west on CO-14 to Walden, then north on CO-125 about 4.5 miles, and turn east on Jackson County Rd 8 for about 7 miles. Roughly 100 yards past a fence line, take CR-8A — it's the 2nd branch to the left off CR-8 and is not signed — and follow it to its end, taking the right branch at the Y (about 12 miles from CO-125). Drive 3 more miles and park at roughly N40°52.21' / W106°07.63', around 10,600 ft. From the parking area, hike downhill to the east to reach Forest Service trail #965 (signed as Medicine Bow Road), then follow it 2 easy miles to its end at the north end of the Medicine Bow Trail. Plan for about 5 hours of total travel from Fort Collins. Toilets & stock water are available back at Browns Park Campground; there are no services at the trailhead.

Know Before You Go

• Alpine lightning is the danger. The middle miles run right at 10,800 ft along an exposed ridge with no shelter — start early, watch the afternoon sky, and be off the crest before storms build.
• Rough road, high-clearance only. The north access needs an all-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle and a long, slow drive on unsigned county roads — then a 2-mile walk down Medicine Bow Road just to reach the trail.
• Water is scarce. Reliable water is limited to East Sand Creek near Ute Pass (a ¼-mile hike west and down) and a small intermittent stream about 1.1 miles north of the pass — carry and treat what you need.
• No wood fires up high. Wood fires are prohibited above 10,800 ft — the middle 2 miles from Shipman Mountain north sit inside the Rawah Wilderness Alpine Closure Area.
• Wilderness rules apply. No bikes or wheeled conveyances, no motorized use, dogs on a hand-held leash with hikers, and groups capped at 12 people and stock combined; stock must be fed only pellets or certified weed-free hay.
• Season is short. Typically open only from late June, once Laramie River Road is plowed and clear — not accessible in winter.
• Expect solitude. This trail sees very little use, so the tread is in good shape but you're on your own out here — tell someone your plan and carry the ten essentials.