Exploring the Backcountry

HIKING

There are over 50 hiking trails in the Snowy Range and Sierra Madre Mountain Range ranging from 7,400 ft. to 11,200 ft. in elevation. There are also 14 hiking trails on Pole Mountain, most of which double as cross-country ski trails in the winter. The trails are often shared between hikers, mountain bikes, equestrians and ATVs and offer a variety of difficulty levels. View VIP's Snowy Range & Sierra Madre Recreation Map for location, distance, elevation gain, multiple-use and difficulty levels of each trail.

Several trails pass through designated Wilderness Areas: Savage Run, Platte River, Huston Park, Encampment River and lands surrounding the Rock Creek Trail. Wilderness areas are roadless, with few signs and no services. Motorized vehicles and mountain bikes are not allowed in an effort to preserve the solitude of these relatively undisturbed areas of the forest.

Snowy Range

Some of the most spectacular, yet strenuous, trails in the Snowy Range lead to the 12,013 ft. summit of Medicine Bow Peak. These trails begin at the Sugarloaf Recreation Area along the Highway 130--the Snowy Range Scenic Byway and are accessible late-June/early-July through October, weather permitting. Get an early start when hiking these upper elevation trails as winds (and sometimes storms) tend to arrive by midafternoon. Lakes and streams seem to be everywhere, so you'll want to bring along a fishing pole. Click here to see the types of fish in these upper elevation lakes. When hiking the Snowy Range and other trails at high elevations, certain normal physiologic changes occur, such as hyperventilation and shortness of breath during exertion. As a precaution, allow your body a couple of days to acclimate before exploring the high country.

Hiking: Sierra Madre Range | Snowy Range Trails | Sierra Madre Range Trails | Pole Mountain Trails