Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest — Attraction in Elk Mountain

Medicine Bow–Routt National Forest is the official title to a U.S. Forest Service managed area extending over 2,222,313 acres (8,993.38 km2) in the states of Wyoming and Colorado, United States. What were once three separate areas, Medicine Bow National Forest, Routt National Forest, and Thunder Basin National Grassland were administratively combined in 1995 due to similarity of the resources, proximity to each other and for administrative purposes. Routt National Forest lands (1,125,438 acres) are located in northwestern Colorado. The Steamboat Ski Resort is located in the forest, on Mount Werner. The forest is named after John Routt, the first Governor of Colorado. It was established in 1905 by President Theodore Roosevelt. The forest encompasses 1,126,346 acres (4,558.16 km2). The Continental Divide splits the forest in half, with the east part drained by the North Platte River and the west drained by the Yampa River. Routt National Forest contains seven wilderness areas entirely or partially within it. Entirely within Routt are the Mount Zirkel and the Sarvis Creek Wildernesses. Lying mostly within neighboring forests but extending into Routt are the Flat Tops (White River NF 83.5%), Neota (Roosevelt NF 97.3%), Never Summer (Arapaho NF 68.4%), Platte River (Medicine Bow NF 96.8%), and Rawah (Roosevelt NF 98.0%) Wildernesses. In descending order of land area the forest is located in Routt, Jackson, Rio Blanco, Grand, Moffat, and Garfield counties. There are local ranger district offices located in Steamboat Springs,...

I write this note from my camper in the heart of the park. I towed it here with a Jeep. It was a frustrating but rewarding experience. I stopped in many areas trying to find a place/road to enter. Nearly all the roads were closed to motor vehicles! This is disgrace to the citizens of this fine country. In particular to the elderly and disabled who want to get off the pavement in their 4 wheel drive vehicles to enjoy nature. For what ever reasons the park administration is limiting access. I am sure they have reasons. I am also sure most the good people of Wyoming and the USA find these reasons to be fear based and idiotic. The park is a great place to hike, walk your dog, ride a horse or bike but it is also a great place to get into nature via 4 wheel drive (especially for those in their golden years). I ask the park administration to please look at all groups who can benefit from the park and open it up. Stop treating us like children. We are responsible, respectfull tax paying citzens. The West still has some life left. Don't kill it prematurely by emulating East coast park systems. Fewer signs and closures equals more Freedom. Make Wyoming...

Fantastically beautiful place, with a lot of trails and camping opportunities. Allows dispersed camping, we stayed on a lake shore off forest rd 103. It is the side of Snowy range opposite to all popular picnic grounds, campings and trails. You see almost no one, nature wild and untouched, trails empty. Still, by Dipper lake trail you can reach Medicine Bow peak, or enjoy alpine nature going by Heart lake trail... One of the best outdoor experience in my life, and I've seen a lot. Relative solitude make sense in our CoV time :) Mind you, you can see Great Rocky Mountains on the South from Medicine Bow peak, so it is very close to that way more popular destination. But experience from a visit the same, just much less people. And don't forget to drive all way up the Kennaday mountain, to look at Snowy Range and other mountains from some distance. Another fantastic place to visit with...