The Ten Essentials
Overview
The northern section of the Rawah Trail provides access to Lost Lake, Big Rainbow and Sandbar Lakes, the Rawah Lakes and Grassy Pass. This patrol is best done as a two- or three-day trip. The southern end of the Rawah Trail connects with the West Branch Trail.
| Wilderness One Way Length Beginning Elevation Peak Elevation Gain/Loss/Net Gain Ratings USFS Regulations Trails Illustrated Quadrangle |
Rawah 9.9 miles (trailhead to Grassy Pass) 8,378 11,250 2,962/90/+2,872 Hikers – Strenuous; Stock Riders – Challenging National Forest > Wilderness #112 Poudre River, Cameron Pass Rawah Lakes |
Location
Drive up the Poudre Canyon for 51.6 miles from Ted’s Place, turn right on the Laramie River Road (at mm 71.5), and drive 12.7 miles to the parking lot, which is located on the east (right) side of the road across from the Rawah Guest Ranch. Park here and cross the road to the trailhead. Facilities and trailer parking are available. No water.
| GPS Coordinates Trailhead Wilderness boundary Jct. Lost Lake Trail Jct. Camp Lake Trail Jct. Link Trail Jct. McIntyre Lake Trail Jct. Big Rainbow & Sandbar Lakes Trail Grassy Pass |
N40°44.632’ W105°52.552’ Map N40°44.470’ W105°53.872’ N40°42.631’ W105°55.747’ N40°42.034’ W105°56.453’ N40°41.860’ W105°57.137’ N40°41.783’ W105°57.251’ N40°41.163’ W105°57.032’ N40°40.555’ W105°56.602’ |
Description
This trail typically requires an overnight stay. The first part of the trail travels through the flat Laramie River Valley on an easement across private property. In one riparian area, the trail bed was raised, and a culvert installed to allow water to flow under the trail. A local beaver family saw this as a great opportunity to create a pond by plugging the culvert. Hence the trail is often flooded, especially during early summer runoff. Since you need to stay on the trail, be prepared to do some wading.
After hiking 1.5 miles, you will enter the Rawah Wilderness. After leaving the valley the trail climbs steeply through lodgepole pine before leveling out along the Rawah Creek drainage. In another 2 miles you will reach the Rawah Bog. At this point, you will notice the Lost Lake Trail. Continue on around the Rawah Bog and up another steep area. At this point there will be a footbridge crossing a drainage coming in from the west. Look for moose in this area. This is a good place to set up camp; look for a site up and to the right of this drainage. Good campsites can also be found along the Rawah Trail just below and adjacent to Rawah Lake #1. Be sure that you are camping at least 200 ft. from the Rawah lakes. The hike over the next day and a half should include the lower three Rawah Lakes, Grassy Pass, and Rawah Lake #4, which sits in a majestic bowl to the southwest of Grassy Pass and the trail to Grassy Pass. Bighorn sheep can sometimes be spotted in the Grassy Pass area.
On your way back down this trail, if you are going to hike Big Rainbow & Sandbar Lakes Trail, stay along the Rawah Trail to the east and above the Rawah Lakes. Just north of Rawah Lake #3, turn right onto the Big Rainbow & Sandbar Lakes Trail. This trail will take you past three small lakes (see Big Rainbow & Sandbar Lakes Trail ). Note that the Rawah (North) trail is much more enjoyable if you can spend two or three days.
