You’ve Never Experienced Anything Like This Epic Abandoned Railroad Hike In Wyoming
This epic, abandoned railroad hike in Wyoming is loaded with history. The Medicine Bow Rail Trail winds through the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest from the Wyoming-Colorado border heading north to the boundary of the forest. It was in this area that the Arapahoe and Cheyenne Native Americans conducted healing ceremonies and cut the trees to use strong bows for hunting. That’s how the area got its name of Medicine Bow.
More and more communities are converting abandoned railways and turning them into recreational paths used for hiking, biking and horseback riding. In Medicine Bow, the railroad bed structure was in such good shape, the Forest Service wanted to make it so the public could use it for recreational purposes.
The trail runs along a section of an abandoned right-of-way along the Laramie, Hahns Peak and Pacific Railroad. The railway was built in the early 1900s to meet the needs of a second gold rush. The rails were also the means of transportation for timber, coal and livestock. In 1951, it became part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Pictured is a caboose which was donated by the WyColo Railroad. They were the last ones to use the railway. The caboose is located along a short section of track at the Lake Owen trailhead. The Forest Service would like to eventually open the caboose up for overnight accommodations.
The Medicine Bow Rail-Trail is a hard-packed gravel trail that snakes along for 21 miles. Not only does the trail pass by the old caboose but it also snakes by a stand of lodgepole, aspen, fir, spruce, meadows, streams, swamps, lakes and ponds. Some wildlife you may encounter include moose, mule deer, beaver, elk, pronghorn, porcupines and black bear.
There are six trail accesses for the Medicine Bow Rail Trail. These include Dry Park on the northern end, Pelton Creek on the southern end, Vienna, Woods Creek, Lincoln Gulch and Lake Owen. Pictured is Lake Owen. Most of the trailheads have parking, vault toilets and picnic tables.
To get a visual of the trail, check out this video by YouTube user, Nostalgiawest Photography.
For other hikes in Wyoming, click on 10 Incredible Hikes Under 5 Miles Everyone In Wyoming Should Take.
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