rainbow lakes trailhead

Trailhead Location: The Rainbow Lakes Trailhead is located 5 miles west of Highway 72 on Rainbow Lakes Road (a.k.a. This hike consists of a nice relaxing stroll through evergreen forests and Aspen Groves, beautiful in the fall. By the time we left there was only one other car in the parking lot. The main trail continues NW of the last major lake to nowhere in particular, gradually fading in the forest along Rainbow Lakes' primary inlet. It is primarily a backpacker or advanced stock use trail, since it lies deep within the park and is accesed via several other trails. Camping is permitted only at designated campsites in the Diamond, Jasper, Crater and Caribou Lakes Backcountry Zones. Trail Photos It soon enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Camping is allowed at Hanging Lake, which is 1.5km beyond Rainbow Lake. This trail is easy to travel up to Rainbow Lake. Rainbow Lakes Trail, #918, heads west from the trailhead. The Rainbow Lakes are a series of 9 lakes and beaver ponds linked across a broad flat between Peak to Peak Highway and the Continental Divide. Hanging Lake is a bit dark and swampy as compared to the spectacular camping at Beverley Lake which is a tough but rewarding hike beyond Rainbow Lake. This is a longer hike to Rainbow Lake at 2 miles one-way and is rated moderate. Packstock is prohibited in the Four Lakes Backcountry Zone, in the Cascade Backcountry Zone above Cascade Falls and on the Diamond Lake Trail #975. The trail passes through dense forest as it skirts above the campground before passing the Arapaho Glacier Trail. Get Here. Rainbow Lakes Trail heads west from the Rainbow Lakes Trailhead located before the Rainbow Lakes Campground. Comments. Map Information. 1: N40 00.631 W105 34.331 — 0.0 miles Rainbow Lakes Trailhead : 2: N40 00.728 W105 34.640 — .35 miles: First Rainbow Lake : 3: N40 00.746 W105 34.838 — .95 miles: Begin series of Rainbow Lakes 2, 3 … Motorcycle Riding. The trail officially enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness a few dozen yards from the parking area and bears left. Only used to identify you to ProTrails. The trail passes north of a marshy meadow (.8 miles) to another small but accessible lake. High clearance vehicles are recommended, though 2WD vehicles should have no problem when conditions are clear. Thunder Basin Hearing Impaired Hiking. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/rainbow-lakes-trail (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You can contact ProTrails directly through our Facebook or Instagram accounts. Head a few feet downhill for a close-up of the shoreline. Rainbow Lake Trailhead is located in the Mount Zirkel/Parks Range and is managed by the Parks Ranger District. The trail is an easy, short hike up to the Rainbow Lakes, a series of small lakes and beaver ponds. OHV Riding (>50”) Nordic Skiing. County Road 116 – National Forest System Road 298). Rainbow Lake Trailhead . I played hooky from work on a hot Tuesday in July (Denver, CO) to venture with a friend to Rainbow Lakes, Indian Peak Wilderness, in Arapaho Forest about seven miles north of Nederland, Colorado. A few rocky spots,it took us about 2 hours to complete. No motorized vehicles are allowed west of Trail #1126. Trail Descirption: Rainbow Lakes Trail heads west from the Rainbow Lakes Trailhead located before the Rainbow Lakes Campground. The trailhead is for both the Rainbow Lakes and Arapaho Glacier. It’s a relatively short trek up to a pretty pond. Trail was covered in a few inches of snow, slightly icy in a few spots, but not enough to warrant microspikes, and definitely not deep enough to justify snowshoes yet. Manager USFS Gunnison Ranger District; URL This was a pretty easy hike for a couple not in hiking shape. The Rainbow Lakes Trailhead is located 5 miles west of Highway 72 on Rainbow Lakes Road (a.k.a. Medicine Bow-Routt Rainbow Lake Trailhead is located in the Mount Zirkel/Parks Range and is managed by the Parks Ranger District. We stopped for awhile at the lake and just took a slow leisure hike. Rainbow Lake is a source of Whistler's drinking water and therefore, swimming in the lake and camping at the lake are NOT permitted. Rainbow Lake is the third lake along The Beaten Path, a 26 mile hike through the heart of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.At seven miles from the trailhead (technically about eight miles), the lake is a good day hike for strong hikers, or a good day trip for moderate hikers camped at Elk Lake.The lake is absolutely stunning- a jewel nestled in the mountains, fed by a gorgeous waterfall. Pets must be on a handheld leash at all times. Water is available along most of this trail, but campsites are limited. From Stehekin, take the bus or walk to the Rainbow Loop Trailhead, about four miles from the landing. The Rainbow Lake Trail provides access to one of the park's steepest passes, Bowan Pass, as well as deep blue Rainbow Lake. It levels on an alpine bench (1.85 miles : 10,730'), where a second push leads to a tarn with terrific down-valley views (2.05 miles). The real beauty of this trail comes from the aspen forest that you hike … Permits are required year-round for day and overnight use by large groups (8+) or organizational groups such as scouts, churches, schools and hiking clubs. ", "Small amount of snow to the TH. This end of the trail is also sometimes called the South Fork Trail. Rainbow lake was snow-covered, but if you are feeling ambitious, you can hike an additional 2 km past this lake and camp at Hanging Lake (where some people were clearly headed with full packs/gear). Many side trails lead visitors up to mountain lakes and streams for fishing, and during hunting season, gamesmen will find plenty of bear, deer and elk nearby. The hike to Rainbow Lake follows a portion of Rainbow Lake Trail #1130, which runs from the Rainbow Lake trailhead to its terminus with the Wyoming Trail #1101 (Continental Divide Trail). Map showing recreational areas. It soon enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The trail down to Rainbow Lake is easy enough for almost any hiker, with a short but more challenging loop around the lake and many options for longer routes. Trip Reports Trail Map It keeps west and undulates with less clarity to an elevated rock pile between juxtaposed lakes (.95 miles : 10,280'), from which social paths branch to outlying ponds in the area. From my campsite, I had oohed and ahhed at the red, gold, and green splashes of color in the hills on the south side of Dillon Reservoir. Visitors can also take their pick when it comes to accommodations near the trail. At this time of year, with crampons/spikes, expect 4 hrs to Rainbow lake and a 2.5 hr return. Abundant summer wildflowers and turning aspen make this a particularly colorful 3 season trail. The trailhead leaves at the Rainbow Lakes Campground, so if you want to plan a trip with the kids, this is a great activity to wear off all those s’mores you ate the night before. It soon enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness. For current information on road openings and … Road still open to the trailhead and no snow. Leaving Denver around 7, we stopped in quaintly beautiful Nederland for a short break and then headed up to the trailhead. The wilderness is closed to motorized and mechanized vehicles. Directions to Trailhead. The trailhead might be busy, but heading to Island and Rainbow Lakes may afford you more solitude than you'd expect on the crowded I-90 corridor. Rainbow Lakes Road is located 7.35 miles north of Nederland, CO. Water so clear you can see the fish. Vehicle access to this trailhead is seasonal. ", "beuatiful and very easy. ATV Riding. Colorado Trail Explorer. Although the trip starts off nice and easy along Rainbow Lakes, the climb to Arapahoe Glacier Lookout gains more than 3,600 feet over exposed, rocky terrain. The trail is an easy, short hike up to the Rainbow Lakes, a series of small lakes and beaver ponds. 307-745-2300, Telephone for the It soon enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness . For Rainbow Basin Trail, also called Rainbow Lakes Trail, is a 4-mile out-and-back trek in the Boise National Forest that meanders past nine mountain lakes, creating a … Trailhead on East Elk Creek in Gunnison National Forest. The Rainbow Lakes Trail is a nice family-friendly hike that will - in a short amount of time - take you to four scenic mountain lakes. Lake View. No motorized vehicles are allowed west of Trail #1126. Got to the TH at 8:15am and were the first ones there. 10,200), a series of small lakes and beaver ponds. Two more lake-ponds are hidden by trees 100+ yards south that see fewer people. We hiked up the road, but it adds about 1.5 mile to the hike. Beverley Lake is reached by following the trail toward Rainbow Mountain. Tell us when your experience with this trail happened. Turn west from Highway 72 on Rainbow Lakes Road and keep straight past the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station access road and Caribou … Located east of the Rainbow Lakes Campground, this newly constructed trailhead provides access to the Rainbow Lakes and Arapaho Glacier Trails inside the Indian Peaks Wilderness. County Road 116 - National Forest System Road 298). When we arrived the road to the camp ground was closed for the winter season. Will not show on comments list. The first half of the Arapahoe Glacier Trail is a 3-mile steady ascent under a pine and spruce canopy. Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland, USDA Forest Service The trail starts at the Rainbow Lakes Trailhead and immediately enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness as it starts the gentle climb towards Rainbow Lakes. This is the latter, the singular. You'll pass through the campground before seeing a large Indian Peaks Wilderness Sign. Road was open all the way to the TH, none of the gates were closed. ", N40 00.631 W105 34.331 — 0.0 miles Rainbow Lakes Trailhead, N40 00.728 W105 34.640 — .35 miles: First Rainbow Lake, N40 00.746 W105 34.838 — .95 miles: Begin series of Rainbow Lakes 2, 3 and 4, N40 00.784 W105 35.273 — 1.35 miles: Rocky ascent past Fourth Rainbow Lake. You can follow the inlet to its source at a snowfield on the drainage's headwall. Boulder Ranger District USDA Forest Service 2140 Yarmouth Ave. Boulder, CO 80301 303.541.2500, Summer Hours: Mon-Thur 8 - 4:30 Fri 8 - 5:30 Sat 9 - 3. Horseback Riding. National Grassland County Commons/Miner’s Creek Trailhead: From Frisco Main Street, turn right at the traffic light at the intersection of CO-9. Designated trailhead with access to trails that lie within the Mt Zirkel Wilderness. After leaving the trailhead beside Big Trinity Lake, the trail heads south through recently burned landscape and climbs 620 vertical feet in the first mile to reach the divide into Rainbow Basin. This trailhead is located on the eastern slopes of the Park Range in the Routt National Forest of Colorado. National Forests, Biking. Setting is managed forest area. Rainbow Lakes Trail #918, heads west from the trailhead. Campfires are prohibited east side of the Continental. From the trailhead, the trail starts through a mixed forest with moderate to severe lodgepole pine beetle kill. The trail itself is pretty straightforward, follow the signs to Rainbow Lakes. Like. Most likely the lake will be busy, but you can lose some of the crowds by following the lake shore to the far side. Vehicle access to this trailhead is seasonal. This view is the first of the Rainbow Lakes along the trail. Print Trail The trailhead is located east of the Rainbow Lakes Campground which you walk past in the first mile of the hike. From the trailhead along Alta Lake Road, walk past the large map of the area and into the forest as you follow the route next to 21 Mile Creek. Timberline is at approximately 10,500 feet elevation. Any Activity. The drive up is not for the faint of heart (or stomach). Rainbow Lakes Road is located 7.35 miles north of Nederland, CO. Turn west from Highway 72 on Rainbow Lakes Road and keep straight past the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station access road and Caribou 4WD turnoff, through the Rainbow Lakes Campground to the small parking area at the road's terminus at the trailhead. Rainbow, Cutthroat and Brook trout are found in these lakes. It provides access to the southeastern portion of the 159,935 acre Mount Zirkel Wilderness via trail#1130, the Rainbow Lake Trail. The trailhead is marked and easy to find at the west end of the campground area. 2468 Jackson Street Group size is limited to 12 people or people and packstock combined. See the trail maps below for the routes to each of these lakes. 307-745-2307. Sourdough Trail to Brainard Lake Recreation Area, 10,010' - 10,280' (10,315' max elevation), +270' net elevation gain (+362' total roundtrip elevation gain), "Such a beautiful and easy hike to the lakes from the campground. Rainbow Basin Trail, also called Rainbow Lakes Trail, is a 4-mile out-and-back trek in the Boise National Forest that meanders past nine mountain lakes, creating a choose-your-own adventure of unbelievably blue waters. No developed facilities. Snowmobiling. The Rainbow Trail offers plenty of that, too. 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