Medicine Bow South Trail

The southern half of the Medicine Bow Trail is a high, wide-open walk that spends most of its ten and a half miles up on the crest of the range, riding the divide south-southeast from Ute Pass toward the Link Trail. From the very first climb — a steep, eroded half-mile through dense forest above the pass — the country opens up, and for miles you're crossing one grassy crest after another with the whole world laid out around you: North Park spreading west, the Laramie River valley and Shipman Park off to the east, the Snowy Range floating on the northern horizon, and the Medicine Bows rolling away to the south. This is old country — Colorado's northern Utes crossed Ute Pass on their way to North Park, and it later carried the first wagon road over these mountains.

Beautiful as it is, this is a ridgeline trail, and that cuts both ways. Water is scarce up here — the streams you'll want are unnamed trickles a quarter-mile off the trail, so plan to carry what you need and know where the reliable sources are. The route is marked by rock cairns and small metal tags nailed high in the trees, and it pays to keep your eyes up, because outfitters have worn in stray paths that can pull you off course. Above 10,800 feet you're in the Rawah's alpine closure — no wood fires — and out on these exposed crests an afternoon thunderstorm is no place to be, so start early and be down off the high ground before the sky turns. One quiet luxury: you'll have cell coverage across nearly the whole trail, unusual for backcountry this remote.

Trail Facts

Getting There

This is a backcountry-to-backcountry trail with no roadside trailhead of its own — you reach it by way of a connecting trail deep in the Rawah. Its north end meets the McIntyre Trail near Ute Pass (the 0.0-mile point here); its south end ties into the Link Trail; and it can also be joined about 7.5 miles down from the north via the McIntyre Creek Trail. All of these approaches come off the Laramie River Road, which is typically open by late June and is not plowed in winter, so plan your access using the McIntyre, McIntyre Creek, or Link trail descriptions and confirm the road is open before you go.

Know Before You Go

• Carry your water. This trail rides the range crest, so it's dry for long stretches — the nearest sources are unnamed creek headwaters a quarter-mile off-trail, plus reliable water low on the McIntyre Creek Trail and at the upper McIntyre Creek crossing near mile 10.
• Navigation matters. The route is marked by rock cairns and small galvanized tags set 6–9 ft up in the trees; outfitters have worn in unofficial side paths, so watch your markers and stay on the main line.
• Wilderness rules. This is the Rawah Wilderness — no bikes, no wheeled or motorized use of any kind, and group size is capped at 12 people and stock combined.
• Fire closure up high. Wood fires are prohibited above 10,800 ft (the Rawah Alpine Closure Area), and no camping or fires within 200 ft of water or the trail.
• Exposed alpine. Much of the trail is above treeline with no shelter — start early and be off the crests before afternoon lightning builds.
• Stock is difficult. The terrain is hard on horses; stock must be fed only pellets or certified weed-free hay, and dogs stay on a hand-held leash with hikers (voice control with stock).
• Season & a bonus. Typically accessible from late June once the Laramie River Road opens, closed in winter — and unusually for such remote country, you'll have cell coverage across nearly the entire trail.