Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest · Colorado, Wyoming

North Laramie River Trail

2.4 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 625 · trail class 4 · typical grade 12-20% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, bike, motorcycle, atv, e-bike · motorized use allowed

Trailhead North Laramie River Trailhead Drive there

North Laramie River Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up

Free

In the eastern portion of the North Laramie Range, this trailhead accesses prime trout fishing and beautiful canyon experience. The trailhead offers a parking area, with dispersed camping allowed. There are no improved campsites at either the trailhead or within the canyon. In the bottom of the canyon is an old homestead, built in the 1920s. It was developed into a resort, known as the Rainbow's End, and includes 15 buildings scattered along the river. These structures range from the main lodge at the end of the trail, to isolated cabins and root cellars upstream of the lodge. Some of these structures are unsafe, so please use care around them. These buildings are part of our cultural heritage. Please help protect them, don't injure or disturb structures or artifacts. This trail provides public access to 3.5 miles of the North Laramie River, which offers good fishing of primarily brown and rainbow trout, ranging in size from 6 inches to 15 inches. Upstream, the canyon becomes very narrow and steep. Most of the year the river has to be crossed to reach its upper portions. Downstream, the canyon opens up, where bighorn sheep, deer and elk may be seen. You will also notice the large fire that swept through this area. In July of 1996, 7,000 acres were burned as the result of a lightning strike. Watch the area regrow as the years go by.

Restrictions No vehicles over 50" in width. Wyoming State OHV sticker required on vehicles. Closed to motorized use November 15 - April 30.

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

All 375 trails in Medicine Bow-Routt National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.