Medicine Bow Rail Trail

The old Union Pacific Railroad grade cuts a ruler-straight line across the Red Desert between Medicine Bow and Creston Junction, offering one of Wyoming’s most authentic overland experiences. This 65-mile abandoned railway follows the same route that carried supplies to build the transcontinental railroad, passing through badlands, alkali flats, and sage-covered hills where antelope outnumber humans 100 to 1. The route crosses several historical sites including the remains of Carbon and Dana, ghost towns that died when the railroad changed routes.

This is serious backcountry requiring high-clearance 4WD and desert preparation. The two-track alternates between decent packed dirt and loose sand that can trap unwary drivers. No services exist along the entire route, and cell coverage is nonexistent. Carry extra water, fuel, and recovery gear. Spring and fall offer the best conditions—summer heat can be brutal, and winter snow makes sections impassable. The reward is solitude in one of Wyoming’s most unchanged landscapes.