Top of the World
Top of the World Trail is a 12.8 miles trail in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Colorado. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 40.3497, -106.0901 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 40.3250, -106.2333 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start.
The trail
| Length | 12.8 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 8-10 percent |
| Typical tread width | 12-18 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 1211.1B |
| Forest | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest (unit 0206) |
| States | Colorado |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed |
| Mountain biking | Allowed 01/01 to 12/31 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
No season published Seasonal restrictions to protect big game habitat effectiveness, prevent damage to soils, or allow big game retrieval affect motorized use on many roads and trails in this area. See MVUM or contact District for more information. | 0 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date. The recreation page link goes to the Forest Service site, which may redirect to the forest's recreation index.
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Explore
Park units nearby
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Top of the World Trail?
12.8 miles, the sum of the 1 segment the Forest Service records under this name in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Top of the World Trail?
hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Top of the World Trail start?
The line begins at 40.3497, -106.0901 and ends at 40.3250, -106.2333. The nearest recorded trailhead is Troublesome Pass Trailhead, 0 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Top of the World Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Top of the World Trail?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
How developed is the Top of the World Trail?
Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Top of the World Trail?
The typical grade is 8-10 percent. The typical tread is 12-18 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Top of the World Trail a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Scenic or Historic Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Top of the World Trail?
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, Forest Service unit 0206. The trail is in Colorado.
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named TOP OF THE WORLD in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0206. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.