Fort Collins, CO to Rawlins, WY

[PatSoozy]

Good evening all.
We are hoping to go west this summer and were wondering if anyone has gone from Fort Collins to Rawlins "the back way" via Walden, CO and Riverside, WY? We have a 22FB Sport pulled by an F150 Screw with a 3.5. Thanks in advance.

[GMFL]

We have traveled Hwy 287 from Fort Collins to Kelly WY. It is most beautiful drive we have ever done.

[SSquared]

CO 14 up Poudre canyon to Cameron Pass is a pretty drive (though I haven't seen it since this year's 208,000 acre fire) with mild grades. We did two round trips towing the trailer in 2020.



But I find it more tiring than driving on major highways. It is quite curvy.

[PatSoozy]

Thanks for that. We are hoping to ultimately make it to Glacier via idaho Falls and Butte; my wife prefers more well traveled roads like the US roads. I wasn't sure how busy 287/26 was going to be heading up to GT. Being in Wyoming, I assume there are a lot of campgrounds along the way; we generally try to keep the days to around 300 miles.

[field & stream]

We have driven the roads you would be using (several times) and there are no big reasons for you not to consider this route with your rig.

Agree with the above posters: 287 and 14 are both beautiful drives, with 14 being more scenic and a bit more of an adventure. We also love 14 from Cameron Pass to Walden through the rural North Park, which bills itself as the moose viewing capital of Colorado. From there the drive up to Wyoming past the Medicine Bow Mountains is also delightful.

[PatSoozy]

Originally Posted by field & stream

We have driven the roads you would be using (several times) and there are no big reasons for you not to consider this route with your rig.

Agree with the above posters: 287 and 14 are both beautiful drives, with 14 being more scenic and a bit more of an adventure. We also love 14 from Cameron Pass to Walden through the rural North Park, which bills itself as the moose viewing capital of Colorado. From there the drive up to Wyoming past the Medicine Bow Mountains is also delightful.

Thanks again for the answers. Now I just have to find campgrounds along the way - significantly more tedious than driving Lincoln to North Platte.

[tjdonahoe]

Do it..lots of free parking

[kpfate]

I live in Cheyenne and have driven almost every back road imaginable. 287 between Ft Collins and Laramie is a good drive, and in my honest opinion, any road other than traveling I-80 with an AS is best!

We have a 2108 22fb Sport and pull it with a 2018 GMC 1500 Sierra - they fit together like peas & carrots.

While we are new to the AS world, I am NOT new to traveling the state as it is part of my job (20 yrs now) so if you need any further info on roads throughout our great state then please feel free to send me a message!

Attached is a copy of the WY road map for reference.

[SSquared]

As I mentioned, there was a big fire called Cameron Peak last summer, that burned a lot of forest around the Poudre river. I don't know which, if any, of the National Forest campgrounds and boondocking sites in that area will be open.

Between Cameron Pass and Walden CO you pass by State Forest State Park, which has several campgrounds. Know that they are doing heavy construction at the dam at North Michigan Reservoir. That means dust and noise for the adjacent CGs, plus there will be heavy truck traffic on the road into those CGs as well as Bockman CG, which is further up the same road. Ranger Lakes CG is not affected by this.

These was also a big fire (Mullen) that straddled the CO-WY border north of Walden. I don't know what affect that had on camping opportunities.

[kpfate]

Originally Posted by PatSoozy

Good evening all.
We are hoping to go west this summer and were wondering if anyone has gone from Fort Collins to Rawlins "the back way" via Walden, CO and Riverside, WY? We have a 22FB Sport pulled by an F150 Screw with a 3.5. Thanks in advance.

Forgot to add - I lived in Bellvue/Papillion NE for about 6-7 years growing up, knows that trip on US 30 from Cheyenne to Omaha back in the 70's when I-80 wasn't completed between Cheyenne & Lincoln.