Rainbow Lakes
Colorado
Free — you'll pick up right here.
15.3 mi
Distance
2,274 ft
Gain
Conditions: Caution
for hike, todayAgency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good
2 factors · 2 sources
Newest 8 h ago · oldest 8 h
caution: Agency alerts
9 active alerts in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest; most severe: Trail & Access Impact: Stillwater Reservoir Project
USFSPosted Aug 24 · checked 8 h ago
clear: Weather
Clear, high 68°F / low 35°F, 20% precip — 91/100 for hike
OpenWeather8 h ago
Been out here in the last few days? One report keeps this current for everyone.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
Rainbow Lakes
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 15.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,274 ft
- Highest point
- 11,355 ft
- Lowest point
- 9,086 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
- Wilderness area
- Mount Zirkel Wilderness
- Horses
- Allowed
- Surface
- Natural
Source for horses, surface: USDA Forest Service National Forest System Trails (EDW)
About this trail
Rainbow Lakes is a 15.30-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 2,274 feet of elevation gain. The route reaches a maximum elevation of 11,355 feet.
Facts about this trail
The climb
- High point
- 11,355 ft
- Length (round trip)
- 15 mi
- Shape
- Out and back
Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)
Where it is
- Mount Zirkel Wilderness · Wilderness
- Parks Ranger District · Ranger district
- Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Source: Wilderness.net boundaries; USFS EDW boundaries; USGS PAD-US 4.1
Conditions
Active alerts for Parks Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
Snyder Creek Trail Temporary Closure
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Aqua Fria TrailHiking1.9 mi
- Grizzly-Helena TrailHiking1.9 mi
- Slide TrailHiking3.2 mi
- Teal Lake Group CampsiteCamping4.4 mi
- Roaring ForkCanoeing4.5 mi
- Chedsey CreekCanoeing5.4 mi
- Grizzly Guard StationCamping6.3 mi
- Grizzly Creek Guard StationCamping6.3 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
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