Unit 7, Colorado

Highly varied mountain terrain ranging from approximately 7,700 feet along the lower Laramie River valley to approximately 12,951 feet at the highest Medicine Bow summits. The Rawah Wilderness itself spans 8,400–13,000 ft. The Rawah Range features glaciated alpine basins, steep drainages, and rocky ridgelines above treeline. Lower elevations transition through forested slopes with numerous creek drainages and river bottoms. Elk summer range concentrates between 9,500 and 11,500 feet. The unit spans roughly 243 square miles (155,000+ acres).

Primary vehicular access is via Colorado Highway 14 (Cache la Poudre–North Park Scenic Byway) along the southern unit boundary running between Fort Collins and Walden, crossing Cameron Pass at 10,276 feet. From Highway 14, County Road 103 (Laramie River Road) runs north along the eastern boundary approximately 16 miles to the Rawah Wilderness trailheads, passing Hohnholz Lakes and campgrounds. Key trailheads into the Rawah Wilderness include the Link-McIntyre Trailhead (~3 miles west of CR 103 on CR 80C) and the Blue Lake Trailhead off Highway 14. The Rawah Wilderness (76,394 acres) and portions of Roosevelt National Forest are foot/horse access only — no vehicle entry. Roosevelt National Forest roads on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District (approximately 650,000 acres, mostly Larimer County) include the Pearl Beaver Road (FDR 169, ~20 miles, gravel, seasonal June 15–November 30), Sand Creek Pass Cutoff (FDR 336, seasonal June 15–November 30), and Old Roach Road (FDR 200, ~36 miles). Forest Service roads in the lower Laramie River valley area (FDR 317 series) provide vehicle access to the mid-unit. The Cache la Poudre is Colorado's only federally designated Wild and Scenic River. The unit is approximately 87% public land; the remaining private land is concentrated in the lower Laramie River valley (irrigated ranches) and scattered checkerboard parcels in the northern portion bordering Wyoming. Most high-country roads are seasonally closed and may be impassable until mid-June; late-season hunters should monitor conditions as significant snowfall can close routes.

Diverse cover types from valley floor to alpine: irrigated hayfields and willow/cottonwood riparian corridors along the Laramie River at lower elevations; sagebrush and mountain mahogany on drier slopes and benches; ponderosa pine transitioning to lodgepole pine through mid-elevations; aspen parks and open meadows with lush grasses interspersed in the forested mid-zone; spruce-fir forest covering the upper slopes; and alpine tundra above treeline with wildflower meadows and talus. The Cache la Poudre corridor along Highway 14 on the southern boundary adds a ponderosa/riparian strip. The Rawah Wilderness interior holds 25+ named high-elevation lakes (ranging 5–39 acres) surrounded by spruce-fir and tundra, with 85 miles of trails.

Elk are the primary big game species, with summer range concentrated at 9,500–11,500 feet in the Rawah Range and Medicine Bow Mountains; the rut begins as early as the first week of September. Mule deer inhabit the unit from valley floors to mid-elevation slopes and alpine parks. Pronghorn antelope occur in the lower-elevation sagebrush and open terrain along the northern and eastern edges of the unit near the Wyoming border. Shiras moose are present, particularly in willow-lined stream corridors and riparian areas along the Laramie River; historically very few tags are issued. Black bear range throughout the forested portions. Mountain lion are present. Wildlife in the unit is weather-dependent in movement, with elk pushing to lower elevations and valley floors during heavy snowfall events. Mule deer are noted to migrate early with snowfall. Bighorn sheep are not confirmed for this unit.