Medicine Bow National Forest Backcountry Route
Wyoming's forgotten high country backroads
The Medicine Bow Backcountry Route cuts through some of Wyoming’s most overlooked high country, threading between 10,000-foot peaks on old logging roads and hunting trails. This network of Forest Service roads connects the Snowy Range Pass area to Brooklyn Lake, winding past Medicine Bow Peak and through vast stands of Engelmann spruce that few people ever see. The route follows portions of FR 346 and FR 317, crossing several creek drainages where the road can turn into a muddy mess after storms.
This is moderate difficulty terrain requiring high-clearance 4WD for the rockier sections and stream crossings, though most stock vehicles handle it fine in dry conditions. Best season runs July through September when snow clears from the high passes. No permits needed, but bring extra fuel and water—you’re 40+ miles from the nearest gas station. Dispersed camping is abundant throughout the national forest. The payoff is solitude in some of Wyoming’s most pristine backcountry, with trophy trout fishing and elk bugling in early fall.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 47 mi / 75.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 10200 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Saratoga, Wyoming |
| Land manager | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this route, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD handles it fine in dry conditions. The dirt roads are rough but not technically gnarly — you need decent ground clearance and low range for the steeper pitches, not a built rig.
When does the route actually open after winter, and is September pushing it?
July is the realistic open window — snowpack at 10,200 ft hangs around well into June and can close sections without warning. Early September is fine most years, but watch forecasts closely; early storms hit this elevation fast and the dirt turns to grease when wet.
Do I need a permit or pay any fees to run this route?
No permit required and no day-use fee for driving the backcountry roads through Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Dispersed camping is free; follow the 14-day stay limit and stay 150 ft from water sources and roads.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually be ready for?
The water crossings are the main wildcard — spring runoff and afternoon thunderstorms can swell them quickly at this elevation. The roads themselves throw rutted climbs and loose rock at you, but nothing that should stop a competent driver in a capable rig; the remoteness is the real challenge, not raw technical difficulty.
Is there any gas or services between the trailhead and Saratoga, and how far is the nearest fuel?
Zero services on the route — Saratoga is your last stop for fuel, food, and water before you head in. Top off there; the nearest town on the far end adds miles of driving before you'll find a pump, and 47 miles of backcountry at altitude burns more fuel than highway driving.
Trail track
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