Laramie River Road to Twin Lakes — Medicine Bow National Forest Remote Valley Drive via Chambers Lake
Moose, meadows, and Medicine Bow solitude.
Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest doesn’t get the attention the Beartooths or San Juans pull, which is exactly why this stretch earns its keep. The route leaves Chambers Lake — itself already a long haul from Fort Collins on CO-14 — and follows Forest Road 190 north and west through dense lodgepole and spruce, crossing the upper Laramie River drainage multiple times on log-stringer bridges rated for light vehicles only. The valley opens periodically into broad wet meadows where moose are so common you’ll start treating them like traffic cones. Twin Lakes sits at the north end of the run, a pair of clear alpine lakes backed by the raw granite of the Rawah Wilderness boundary.
The road is well-graded gravel in most conditions but the river bridges are the limiting factor — don’t push anything over 8,000 lbs across them. High-clearance is needed on the northern section where frost heave has broken the road surface into chunky ledge steps. Best season is late June through September; the upper valley holds deep snow well into spring and the bridges flood at runoff. No permit required. Dispersed camping is excellent throughout the corridor on USFS land. Fuel in Laramie or Walden, Colorado — there’s nothing between. Cell service is spotty at the south end and nonexistent north of the first river crossing.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 28 mi / 45.1 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9960 ft |
| Best season | Late June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Walden, Colorado |
| Land manager | USFS Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Laramie Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or do I need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner will get through fine under normal conditions. The water crossings and some rutted sections are where low-range matters — don't attempt this in a 2WD or crossover regardless of how light the conditions look.
When does this route actually open after winter, and is late June reliable?
Late June is the general open window, but snowpack in Medicine Bow runs deep some years and the upper sections near 9,960 ft can stay muddy and soft into early July. Check current road conditions with the Laramie Ranger District before you roll — (307) 745-2300.
Do I need a permit or pay any fees to run this road and camp along it?
No permit is required to drive the route, and dispersed camping in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is free. Standard dispersed rules apply: 14-day stay limit, camp at least 100 feet from water and the road, pack out everything.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The trickiest spots are the water crossings mid-route — depth and current vary with snowmelt and recent rain, so what's a splash in August could be a genuine obstacle in early July. The road itself is mostly manageable dirt and gravel, but ruts after rain can get grabby and the isolation means a mechanical problem is your problem to solve.
There's no cell service on the whole 28 miles — where's the last place to fuel up and how far is the nearest help?
Walden, Colorado is your last fuel stop before heading in from the south — tank up there. Nearest services from the north end near Laramie are roughly 45+ miles out. Run a full tank, carry extra fuel if your rig drinks it, and bring a sat communicator — there is no cavalry out here.
Trail track
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