Cottonwood Lake Campground
Campground
Campground · 2.3 mi from the trail
Colorado · Lake fishing · Buena Vista · Near Pitkin
Rainbow Lake
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Rainbow Lake open right now?
Road closed
Forest Service Road 306: road closure is listed as closed by CDOT 511.
Forest Service Road 306: road closure
Closed · ~0.2 km from Rainbow Lake · CDOT 511
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Turquoise Lake Road (County Road 4) Closure
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
As of · Source: CDOT 511. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Rainbow Lake is a 18-acre lake near Buena Vista, Colorado, at about 9,227 feet.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Punky's
Fast food
Fast food · 20 mi from PitkinIf it rains Evans Firewall & Savard Building
Museum
On your way back · 9 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in PitkinLocal outfitters
- Arrowhead Point Campground and Cabins7 mi away
- Valley Mobile RV Park7 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Rainbow Lake
Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
29° / -8°
8 wet
Feb
33° / -5°
8 wet
Mar
40° / 4°
8 wet
Apr
47° / 18°
8 wet
May
58° / 29°
8 wet
Jun
69° / 36°
7 wet
Jul
72° / 42°
11 wet
Aug
70° / 41°
12 wet
Sep
64° / 34°
9 wet
Oct
54° / 25°
7 wet
Nov
40° / 13°
8 wet
Dec
28° / -4°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Taylor Park, CO, 18.4 mi away at 9,179 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more waters worth the drive
SEE
Cottonwood Lake
~4 min drive
Cottonwood Lake is a 39-acre lake near Buena Vista, Colorado, at about 9,558 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Arkansas River #3b
~14 min drive
SEE
Ohaver Lake
~47 min drive
SEE
South Platte River
~54 min drive
South Platte River is a stream in Colorado.
SEE
Taylor River
~56 min drive
Taylor River is a river in Colorado.
SEE
Ice Pond
~12 min drive
Ice Pond is a 10-acre pond near Buena Vista, Colorado, at about 8,022 feet.
SEE
Quartz Creek Fishing Site
~39 min drive
SEE
Chalk Lake Fishing Site
~12 min drive
SEE
Spout Lake
~13 min drive
Spout Lake is a 5-acre lake near Nathrop, Colorado, at about 11,844 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Pear Lake
~16 min drive
Pear Lake is a 6-acre lake near ALMONT, Colorado, at about 12,086 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Also worth it near here
