メディスンボウマウンテンズ周辺のアトラクション＆必見スポット - トップ15

The Coyote Valley Trail is a pleasant, paved path with beautiful views of the Colorado River and mountains. With a little luck, you might spot elk or moose in the early morning and evening hours, as they often frequent this area.

The Colorado River, with a length of approximately 2,333 km, is the most important river in southwestern North America. It originates in the Rocky Mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park in the state of Colorado. The trail is wide, wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, and runs along the young Colorado River in the Kawuneeche Valley. Here, it still flows as a relatively small river, where elk and moose are also frequented. Many informational panels provide insight into earlier life and the settlers.

The Holzwarth Historic Site is a well-preserved homestead and dude ranch within Rocky Mountain National Park, located in the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side of the park. The Holzwarth family, settlers, built the ranch and homestead in 1917 and later expanded it into the Never Summer Ranch, a popular tourist destination. The site includes historic buildings such as cabins and a taxidermy shop, offering a glimpse into Rocky Mountain life from the early 1900s to the 1970s. There is a parking lot on Trail Ridge Road near the historic site. The homestead is a few minutes' walk away.

All told, the TransAmerica Trail runs for more than 4,000 miles across the country. Although it's technically a road ride, you'll also see people riding their touring bikes along the paved shoulder. Some folks even go all-in with bikepacking their way along the trail. This segment runs from the twin towns of Encampment-Riverside in Wyoming to the Colorado state line, although of course you can keep biking farther if you like.

This is actually a road ride — not a separate trail — and it is unbelievably scenic. The entire trail is more than 4,000 miles long; this segment runs from the twin towns of Encampment and Riverside in Wyoming to the Colorado state line with just one section of significant uphill/downhill grade. Of course the trail keeps going beyond that, so you could continue riding farther if you like.

Barber Lake Road is quiet enough — and scenic enough — to be a fun ride, even if you're not on a road bike. Just know that if you're riding east to west you'll be pedaling almost constantly uphill, whereas going west to east is a consistent (and super-fun) downhill. It's a lot more satisfying to get the uphill out of the way at the start. Along the way, you'll pass the turnoff for the Snowy Lake Lodge, now a private property but still on the National Register of Historic Places; and believe it or not, this is a great place to spot butterflies, like the hoary anglewing, as well. If you feel comfortable going downhill fast on a busier road, you can even turn this into a loop by going up Barber Lake Road and down Snowy Range Road.

Barber Lake Road is a fun, winding ride with relatively little traffic. Its elevation gain/loss is also pretty consistent, so if you want to grind up this road, then let it rip as you descend the busier Snowy Range Road, it's a fun loop. Along the way you'll pass the turnoff for the Snowy Range Lodge, which was a working mountain lodge in Medicine Bow National Forest for years. It sits on the National Register of Historic Places, but is currently owned by a private family.

Barber Lake's roadside access makes it a great place to start, stop, or turn around on a ride along the nearby Barber Lake Trail (sometimes also called the Libby Creek Trail, since it ties in to the trail of that same name). If you start your ride here you can power up the trail's consistent elevation gain, then pretty much coast on the way back. Or you can make a loop by riding one way on Barber Lake Road. Barber Lake Trail, itself, is fun single and double track. Believe it or not, this is a great place for spotting butterflies too. Keep an eye out for species like the hoary anglewing and the green comma if you pause in your ride.