The community was named after the Medicine Bow River.. Dippy, a well-known dinosaur skeleton, was found in a quarry nearby in 1898-99. This is a moderate to difficult loop trail to Medicine Bow Peak in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Explore hiking trails around Medicine Bow, Wyoming. RECOMMENDED … There are lots of camping and hiking opportunities in this area with one of the best trails being the 7.5 mile loop you can do that includes the summit of About 3 miles (4.8 km) from the trailhead, the trail finally comes to the top of Medicine Bow Peak, 12,008 ft. (3,660 m) above sea level, and the highest peak in the Snowy Mountain Range. Only Park Loop has steep narrow sections making this a great place to learn how to cross country ski. Laramie Peak Area in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest offers an extensive system of ATV accessible roads and trails. Date of experience: August 2018. You will have a breathtaking view of Medicine Bow Peak, a sheer cliff of granite rising above Lake Marie to an elevation over 12,000 feet. This trail goes by Lookout Lake, Mirror Lake Picnic Area, and Lake Marie. The hike up to Medicine Bow Peak (12,000 feet!) At the base of Medicine Bow Peak are beautiful turquoise blue clear lakes that are surrounded by beautiful fir and spruce forest. I cannot recommend the complete loop more highly, and ideally it would be done clockwise, as I did. All the trails loop around and come back to the trailhead so there are no long out and back treks. The best trek is a four-day, 35-mile traverse from Rock Creek trailhead (41 miles west of Laramie) to Lake Marie trailhead and 12,013-foot Medicine Bow Peak. The Snowy Range has two major ridges running north/ to south, and between them sits a low pass. Take the trail switchbacking to the ridge above you to the north. The best place to park is in the Northeast corner of the overflow parking area as that is where you will find the tra… RECOMMENDED ROUTE Alpine Lakes Loop 11.8 mi 18.9 km • 1,070' Up 326 m Up • 1,065' Down 324.52 m Down. This portion of the Medicine Bow National Forest is part of the Laramie Range and is dominated by the jagged 10,274 foot crest of Laramie Peak. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Difficulty: Difficult. If you want a memorable trail less traveled, then you need to check out the Medicine Bow Peak Trail. The trail is a 7.4-mile loop that takes hikers to the top of the Snowy Range's summit. Venture to the Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout for breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Medicine Bow Peak, Rob Roy Reservoir, Jelm Mountain and the southern end of the Snowy Range. This loop is a great easy to moderate backpacking loop, that features beautiful views of the Snowy Range and multiple alpine glacial lakes. Cabin rental, trailheads, several developed campgrounds, and dispersed camping are available. Ranger Districts We took the “easy way” — which was still not that easy, to be honest — to the top. Laramie Peak Area The Laramie Peak area is located in east central Wyoming, stretching from southeast of Casper to west of Wheatland. Probably one of the best loop trails I have ever hiked. The trail lis a little tricky to follow if you don't keep an eye out for the wooden posts marking it. Encompassing a campground, several lakes and major trailheads that lead to dozens of other lakes, the possibilities are endless. The first mile gained elevation quickly over several switchbacks. 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. Take a right at the trail junction for Dipper Lake, and make the final climb up to Medicine Bow Peak. The Medicine Bow Peak Loop offers incredible vistas of serene mountain lakes, alpine meadows full of wild flowers, tundra,and awesome windswept cliffs. Amazing trails and scenery. But tucked away in the Cowboy State’s southeastern corner, Medicine Bow Peak Loop promises some of the region’s most sweeping views. We did a three day/two night loop, summiting Medicine Bow peak on the second night. Hike Medicine Bow Peak. Article by Great Awk. Sky Pond, Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail gains 1,600 feet over the course of 7.1 miles, and you’ll feel it almost immediately. Begin with a 2,000-foot climb over five miles on the Rock Creek Trail to the Crater Lake Trail. The hike is scenic the entire way and gives great views of the lakes, rock features, and surrounding area. Incredible night sky! The Scenic Byway takes travelers from sagebrush prairies Except, that is, for the Medicine Bow Peak massif in the Snowy Range of Southern Wyoming. on the West Marie Lake to Lakes trails offers absolutely stunning views of the entire area as well as the peak itself. 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. This means we chose a more gradual direction around the backside of the four-mountain range. Stop in at the Visitor Center in Centennial for a free map of the area and pick your route. Medicine Bow Peak (12,018 ft (3,663 m)) is the highest peak in the Snowy Range, a part of the Medicine Bow Mountains, about 35 miles (56 km) west of Laramie, Wyoming. Options exist from a direct 1.6 mile route, to an incredible 7.5 mile loop. Spend some … From the peak, take in the panoramic views of Snowy Range Peaks and the numerous lakes in the basin below. The community largely owes its existence to the First Transcontinental Railroad, built where the town now stands in 1868.A post office called Medicine Bow has been in operation since 1869. Ask MamaMolly about Medicine Bow National Forest. Medicine Bow Peak (12,014ft) is the highest summit in the Snowy Range of Wyoming. Wildlife is abundant including pikas, marmots, and mule deer. There is a network of quality alpine trails leading around the mountain and up to the summit. I began the hike at the trailhead south of Lake Marie, ascended up the ridge, and continued hiking along the back (western) side of the mountains until I … This included Schoolhouse Rock (11,440 ft), The Diamond (11,720 ft), Old Main (11,755 ft) and Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft). Numerous well-stocked alpine lakes, streams, and giant granite boulders dot the landscape. It is also worth snowshoeing over to Hanging Lake for a peek. Date of experience: July 2015. Take the Medicine Bow Peak Trail up 1,260 feet to the 12,013-foot summit (10). This small trail system is right next to the Snowy Range Ski Area and has about two miles of easy trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. … From the peak, descend steep switchbacks to the trail intersection the Lakes Trail #296. This is an excellent picture spot with hiking trails that show even more of the spectacular views. The Peak looms just above 12,000 feet and gifts those who reach its top with stunning, unobstructed views of the entire range and surrounding valleys. 9. On Saturday we woke with a purpose: to climb the highest point in Southern Wyoming, otherwise known as Medicine Bow Peak. Thank MamaMolly . Savor views over turquoise ponds and sawtooth ridges, then return to the Lost Lake Trail (11). Medicine Bow Peak Loop 7.1 mi 11.4 km • 1,607' Up 489.77 m Up • 1,610' Down 490.85 m Down. The Hike to Medicine Bow Peak. I hiked to Medicine Bow Peak, the highest point in the Snowy Range of southeastern Wyoming in early July 2017. Location: Snowy Range, Medicine Bow National Forest, near Laramie, Wyoming Maps: USGS 1:24K Medicine Bow Peak Trail: F A 6-mile loop hike starting around 10,500' at Lake Marie, curving west along the exposed ridge of the Snowy Range up to 12,013' Medicine Bow Peak, then down lots of switchbacks to the lakes below, and back south to Lake Marie.. Elevation gain along the trail is ~ 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. Historically used for fire suppression, the Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower is now a unique lodging experience in southcentral Wyoming. Go east over glacier-carved rollers, through fragrant forests, and camp along Telephone Lakes (12). After the switchbacks, the trail will gradually ascend towards the summit of Medicine Bow Peak (12,014'). Centennial, WY. Enjoy the views here and just after the peak; the views are … Centennial, WY. Alternatively, from I-80 take Exit 235; turn right (from I … Mountain Landscape National Forest Wyoming Wilderness Wild Flowers Fields Beautiful Pictures Scenery Medicine. The Sugarloaf Recreation Area is in many ways the center of recreational opportunities in the Snowy Range of southern Wyoming. You will come to a quick scramble towards the top and reach the summit. And what a high indeed! The region near Medicine Bow Peak is home to the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, yellow-bellied marmots, pikas and blue grouse. USDA Forest Service Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, Thunder Basin National Grassland 2468 Jackson Street Laramie, WY 82070 307-745-2300. It lies within Medicine Bow National Forest and is the highest point in southern Wyoming. We parked at the east lot and completed this clockwise for a moderate elevation grade. The ruggedness of the area and the Rocky Mountain views from the top are a stark reminder of how much unspoiled land still exists in Wyoming. The latitude and longitude coordinates of Browns Peak are 41.3741367, -106.2841823 and the approximate elevation is 11,703 feet (3,567 meters) above sea level. Turn left into the parking area, marked for Medicine Bow National Forest Observation Point Libby Flats. 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. Browns Peak is displayed on the Medicine Bow Peak USGS quad topo map. Depending on the time of year there may be snow covering a few of these. Anyone who is interested in visiting Browns Peak can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. With trailheads above 10000 feet and just off of the paved Highway 130, Medicine Bow Peak is an instantly accessible alpine high. 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