Telephone for the Hearing Impaired 307-745-2307. Follow Hwy. The trip ends with an overnight stay in historic Saratoga, WY where you can soak in the relaxing hot springs. We crossed paths with two groups of hikers and one group on horses. For the initial walk we were on a 4 wheel drive only road. There are several different routes to Medicine Bow Peak, this way is a large loop that can be completed from either Lake Marie TH parking lots. The Medicine Bow Peaks area is certainly a beautiful one. The Snowy Range features many hikes and climbs. Article by Great Awk. Find a trail map and guide here Medicine Bow National Forest: Hiking - See 338 traveler reviews, 191 candid photos, and great deals for Laramie, WY, at Tripadvisor. While there’s tons of outdoor fun to be had, rock climbers in particular should check this spot out. Oh, and it’s inside of a canyon, too. EASY 4.1 mi. All we have is the downloaded maps, the gear in our packs, 72 hours of time, and no defined plan to guide us on our adventure. Explore hiking trails around Medicine Bow, Wyoming. EASY 3.3 mi. 3. The Lewis Lake Trailhead is very scenic at 1.6 miles offers the shortest route to the summit.The Lake Marie Trailhead offers a generally more gradual, but longer climb (3.6 miles) which is just as scenic. The trail is … Page 166 of Hiking Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest. Discover more about day hikes throughout Yellowstone National Park here. I found the rip & go in Backpacker magizine that featured a loop around Medicine Bow mountain. Beehive Buttress Loop via Crow Creek Loop. Named after the Native American powwows in which numerous tribes would congregate here in search of mountain mahogany, which was an excellent wood for the manufacturing of bows, and to perform… The best hike near Medicine Bow is North Gap Lake Loop via Gap Lakes Trail and Sheep Lake Trail, a 11.4 mile loop in Medicine Bow National Forest. The Medicine Bow Routt National Forest Day Use Pass is accepted along with all Interagency Recreation Passes. It is part of a rugged ridge line that towers over several alpine lakes and forest below.There are several different trailheads that will take you to the summit. This remote hike is one you'll return to again and again. The trail lis a little tricky to follow if you don't keep an eye out for the wooden posts marking it. I’m thrilled that I did it, and I’d definitely go back again someday…and hopefully on a day when thunderstorms aren’t quite so close! Nearby Hiking Trails. Depending on the time of year there may be snow covering a few of these. 1. The Medicine Bow Peak is the highest peak in the Snowy Range at 12,013 feet. After looking at the topo, I figured an off-trail route to the top of 12013′ ft Medicine Bow Peak would be quite doable. Sky Pond, Rocky Mountain National Park. Round Trip Trail Length: 7 miles (11.2 km) Trailhead Elevation: 10,495 ft. (3,199 m) Highest Elevation (Medicine Bow Peak): 12,008 ft. (3,660 m) The state’s two national parks offer a plethora of hiking opportunities. Just south of Yellowtsone, Grand Teton National Park is also renowned for its hiking… While driving the Rocky Mountain National Park Scenic Loop, stop for at least a few minutes at some of the best overlooks and scenic spots along on Trail Ridge Road, including Rainbow Curve Overlook, Forest Canyon Overlook and Medicine Bow Curve Overlook. This is a very petty place with a developed campground and Medicine Bow looming over all. It would eliminate an out and back on a trail and make a nice loop for the weekend. … Or try the Upper Geyser Basin trails — they’ll take you past Old Faithful, Castle, Beehive and other impressive geysers. Getting there: From Cheyenne, take I-80 west through Laramie to exit 311. Medicine Bow Wyoming backpacking trip I found the rip & go in Backpacker magizine that featured a loop around Medicine Bow mountain. Trek deep into LaBonte Canyon on a 5.5 mile loop trail in the heart of Medicine Bow Routt National Forest near Garrett, Wyoming. Medicine Bow Peak + Lakes Trail Loop*** – 6.9 mile loop This is a loop (clockwise recommended) beginning at the Lakes Trailhead climbing the Snowy Range with access to multiple peaks and lakes. It all appeared beautiful and spectacular, but the southwestern side of the valley seemed a bit more scenic than other areas. Difficulty: Difficult. Stats: 9.8 miles, 1,837’ elevation gain. We started the hike from parking area at FR 550, it was a 3.2 mile walk each way. The Snowy Range has two major ridges running north/ to south, and between them sits a low pass. I turned to social media to find put which area seemed the most picturesque. This magical place is called Curtis Gulch Campground. I found dozens of trails in an area just south of Medicine Bow Peak itself many of which were designated for backpacking. I did the loop starting from Lake Marie and couldn't have asked for better weather. 1703 ft Beginning at the Mirror Lake parking, this loop takes you first a few miles of vertical gain on single track and across several boulder fields. Southern Wyoming is so beautiful– one of my friends planned a girls backpacking trip in the Medicine Bow-Rout National Forest to finish out the summer. Ranger Districts. Panoramic views from the top of Medicine Bow Peak are phenomenal. The trail to the north cruises easily up to North twin lakes in about 2 miles. Day Hiking With many miles of trail, opportunities for day hikes abound across all areas of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland. Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, Thunder Basin National Grassland 2468 Jackson Street Laramie, WY 82070 307-745-2300. The Medicine Bow National Forest section (1,096,891 acres) is located in southeastern Wyoming and was originally created as a forest reserve in 1902. An easy 3 mile round trip hike leads to a prehistoric site known as a medicine wheel. Alltrails / Tanu Ricci Reynolds Hill Loop via Cow Trail and Skeleton Trail. Contact Us : Backpacking. For Lewis Lake Trailhead, take the established road towards Sugarloaf Campsite, Libby Lake Campsite, and Lewis Lake Campsite (located about one mile east of the obvious loop in the road). The scenery was stunning. Summit Medicine Bow Peak, Backpack Out, Celebrate at Vee Bar Ranch After an early breakfast, those that want to join the summit party, will pack just some layers, water and snacks in their packs for the steep but rewarding one mile, 1,500 vertical feet hike up to the top of Medicine Bow Peak. The trail is a seven-mile loop trail which includes high-alpine lakes, wildflowers, and panoramic views from the upper ridge. Mountain Landscape National Forest Wyoming Wilderness Wild Flowers Fields Beautiful Pictures Scenery Medicine. I download the maps to my phone’s Topo Maps Plus App for the Wyoming portion of the Medicine Bow Range and drive out of town with my dad and our dog, Sierra, leaving Laramie for the 12,000’ peaks just west of town. Medicine Bow National Forest: Turtle Rock Loop Trail This morning Noelle, Sierra and I packed our camping gear into the car and headed southwest through Cheyenne. Canyon Country is one of the best areas for hiking in Yellowstone National Park. EASY 3.5 mi. This loop is a great easy to moderate backpacking loop, that features beautiful views of the Snowy Range and multiple alpine glacial lakes. We hopped on Interstate 80 and headed further west to the Vedauwoo section of Medicine Bow National Forest. This is a moderate loop trail in Medicine Bow National Forest. If you want to limit your number of stops, at least stop halfway through your trip at the Alpine Visitor Center to sip some hot chocolate and soak in the views before head… Libby Creek Trail and Lakes Trail are popular hikes with both visitors and locals alike. The Medicine Bow Peak Loop offers incredible vistas of serene mountain lakes, alpine meadows full of wild flowers, tundra,and awesome windswept cliffs. The Medicine Wheel is located off of Highway 14A on Forest Road 12. Backpacking is the perfect way to visit some beautiful and unique areas in remote locations, such as designated wilderness areas. We completed this hike on Saturday and the views definitely did not disappoint. Medicine Bow is the tallest peak in the Snowy Range (12,014 ft). 4. HIKING AT VEDAUWOO Valley Massif Loop. ... We stumbled on the Snowy Range and Medicine Bow by accident and probably would have pushed on thru ... ages 6-17 on a backpacking trip along the Alpine Lakes loop (11 miles). This formation was built by Native Americans between 300 and 700 years ago, and it’s original purpose is not entirely clear. Guide: Marc Smith’s Hiking Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest, Bill Hunger’s Hiker’s Guide to Wyoming, Erik Molvar’s Wild Wyoming. rockymountaindiva - Jul 29, 2018 3:59 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2018 2. This weekend we went on a camping trip with some friends to Medicine Bow National Forest in southern Wyoming. Four miles into the Medicine Bow National Forest, and 6,600 feet above sea level, there’s a small and cozy little campground along La Bonte Creek. Medicine Bow Peak is the highest point in southern Wyoming and a challenging four-mile trail leads to the 12,013 ft. summit. There are a total of 6.7 miles of trails, all of them are moderate. Here you can see thermal mud pots, vents and lakes, open meadows and old growth forest. Maps: Medicine Bow National Forest (note the inset); USGS Medicine Bow Peak, Sand Lake quads; Forest Service pamphlet “Snowy Range Trails.” Guide: Marc Smith’s Hiking Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest – Third Edition. This is a very petty place with a developed campground and Medicine Bow looming over all. I started from Brooklin lakes Trailhead. Medicine Bow National Forest is home to some of the most beautiful, serene, and lightly trafficked trails in Wyoming Alltrails / Darwin Keeney The Libby Creek trail is a local favorite thanks to the way it shows off stunning landscapes while maintaining the tranquil nature of the forest. We made our way up the slope and traversed some snowfields. The Sugarloaf Recreation Area is in many ways the center of recreational opportunities in the Snowy Range of southern Wyoming. Review of Medicine Bow National Forest Reviewed August 8, 2019 via mobile We took our 4 kids, ages 6-17 on a backpacking trip along the Alpine Lakes loop … I started from Brooklin lakes Trailhead. The most popular hike in the range is summiting the highest peak, Medicine Bow Peak (12,014'), which only takes a half-day to summit. Holdout Loop via Turtle Rock Loop Trail. 9. Medicine Bow is a beautiful mountain. Please note that Browns Peak is EAST of the Medicine Bow Peak ridge, and that climbing via Lake Marie Trailhead requires a summit of Medicine Bow Peak. Encompassing a campground, several lakes and major trailheads that lead to dozens of other lakes, the possibilities are endless. It is not recommended to hike this trail after 3:00 pm due to rapid weather changes. 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