Medicine Bow Curve

This overlook is named for the Medicine Bow Mountains, which you can see in the distance.

Plan Around Medicine Bow Curve

A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.

Add to tripView park guide

Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.

Medicine Bow Curve Details

This overlook is named for the Medicine Bow Mountains, which you can see in the distance. Below is the Cache la Poudre River, which begins in Rocky Mountain National Park and flows through this glacial valley on its way to the Great Plains. From this point you can see climate in action: the band of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir forest begins at the elevation where the soil is dry enough for trees to grow, and the treeline ends where the temperatures get too cold for the trees to survive.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

Region

N/A

Nearby Parks Around Medicine Bow Curve

Compare nearby parks around Medicine Bow Curve when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

11.6 mi away

Rocky Mountain

National Park · CO

166.4 mi away

Black Canyon

National Park · CO

188.0 mi away

Great Sand Dunes

National Park · CO

241.7 mi away

Arches

National Park · UT

256.7 mi away

Canyonlands

National Park · UT

258.0 mi away

Mesa Verde

National Park · CO

Nearby Points of Interest Around Medicine Bow Curve

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Medicine Bow Curve while the map context is still fresh.

0.0 mi away

Medicine Bow Curve

This overlook is named for the Medicine Bow Mountains, which you can see in the distance.

0.0 mi away

Cache la Poudre River

This federally designated Wild and Scenic River has its headwaters in the northern end of Rocky Mountain National Park.

0.4 mi away

Fall River Pass

Trail Ridge Road traverses Fall River Pass at an elevation of 11,796 feet.

0.4 mi away

Old Fall River Road

From Horseshoe Park, scenic Old Fall River Road runs 9 miles to the 11,796-foot Fall River Pass.

0.4 mi away

Alpine Ridge Trail

This short, well maintained trail climbs to an overlook near the Alpine Visitor Center on Ridge Road.