The Great Rawah Traverse

Long have I admired the rugged spine of the the Medicine Bow mountains in Colorado's Rawah Wilderness. After hiking to an overlook atop Crown Point with some friends of ours back in June, I felt compelled to hike their crest in one push. Researching the route extensively, I decided to define it as the valley floor of North Park by the Jack Dickens trailhead all the way south to Cameron Pass via every high point I could tag along the way. I had hoped it would be doable in a day, but unable to find a single trip report of anyone who had done this route before, and the probable lack of water up on the ridge, I decided that an overnight made more sense.

Sticking as close to the ridgeline as possible except for a detour to camp and get water at Island Lake, this route is approximately 28 miles and 16,000 vertical feet of elevation gain. I do think it is possible in a day, but you would need to cache water around Clark Peak. The 10 quarts that this route required would be too much to carry while making reasonable time. Lightning is the biggest risk factor along the crest of the Rawahs, as you are completely exposed to weather the entire trip. Choose a period with zero thunderstorm risk or do not attempt.

The Rawah Wilderness is located 50 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado and just 6 miles north of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is full of wildlife and high alpine lakes, wildflowers and glacially carved peaks.

Filmed July 1-2, 2020 on a Canon 80D and a GoPro Hero 8 Black.