The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests contain cabin rentals ranging from basic historic buildings to fully equipped accommodations. Elevations in the region range from 5,500 to 12,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal access considerations for cabin visitors. Many cabins provide access to nearby lakes, rivers, and mountain trails.
What to do
Fishing access: Wood Landing Campground places cabin guests directly on the Laramie River. "This small campground is located on the Laramie River at historic Wood's Landing. It has a small store and a gas pump where fishing licenses are sold," notes Rich D.
Mountain exploration: Cabin rentals provide basecamp access to regional peaks and trails. "We drove 12 miles from this cabin to hike to Crater Lake; it's pretty country. Dusty roads, loads of stars, other little creeks nearby," mentions a visitor to Bow River Ranger Station.
Off-road adventures: Some cabin hosts offer guided excursions in the surrounding wilderness. A visitor to Little Cabin With a View reports, "They offer a razor ride up jelm mountain and numerous trails to hike on."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Cabin rentals often provide more seclusion than standard campsites. At Laramie RV Resort, a camper noted, "Our site was small but being separated by a short wall was private enough."
Riverside locations: Proximity to water features prominently in positive reviews. "The campground is a gem! The people are great, and the facilities are very well maintained. The river is beautiful," shares Sarah J. about Lazy Acres Campground and Motel.
On-site management: Having staff available resolves issues quickly. "Leroy, the owner lives there onsite. Very quiet and calm when we stayed in June. Leroy runs a tight ship at the camp, but it's worth it," explains Becky K. about Lazy Acres.
What you should know
Kitchen supplies checklist: Cabins typically provide basic dishware but lack cooking tools. Jeff M. advises, "You may want to bring a measuring cup, spoons, knives, napkins, sponges (for washing up)."
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies drastically across the region. A camper at Lazy Acres Campground and Motel reports, "virtually no cell service with Verizon. The campground provided WiFi was decent."
Pack-out requirements: Trash service is inconsistent between properties. One visitor cautions, "DONT FORGET TO PACK OUT ALL OF YOUR TRASH. The two groups before us didn't; what jerks."
Tips for camping with families
Group activities: The communal spaces at some cabins accommodate large parties. "We were there with our Girl scout troop. The picnic table and the large kitchen table were great for meals and crafts, such as tie dying shirts, making scented candles, etc."
Weather planning: Mountain conditions change rapidly year-round. During winter, some visitors strategically use cabin accommodations to avoid storms: "I decided to stay here while a spring winter storm blew through. Making the reservation was easy," notes L H. at Laramie RV Resort.
Educational opportunities: Historic cabins provide learning experiences about forest service operations and conservation history. Snow Survey Cabin and Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower allow families to experience functional forest service infrastructure.
Tips from RVers
Utility access: Many cabin sites also accommodate RVs with hookups. "Excellent small campground. Everything from full hookups to grassy tent spots. Bathroom with showers. Laundry facilities," reports B W. about Lazy Acres.
Overnight staging: Medicine Bow cabins serve as convenient stopovers on longer journeys. "Good place to stop for the night on the way to Boulder Colorado. We had picked this location because it was on our route and would allow us to reach Boulder early the next morning."
Laundry availability: Extended trips benefit from washing facilities at select locations. Tony D. explains, "Hot showers bathroom are clean. 30 amp hook up and water. We were good to go not the Taj Mahal but it served our needs. Level parking area."
Traveler
