Big Meadows Loop

Big Meadows Loop is a short, easy hike on the Divide Ranger District of Rio Grande National Forest in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 3 miles long and runs in an out-and-back shape, with a low point of about 9,221 feet and a high of about 9,268 feet. The trail is rated easy, and the climb is gentle, with about 42 feet of elevation gain one way. It's a natural-surfaced route, and bikes are allowed, so it works well for a walk, a ride or a stop on the way to Big Meadows. The most comfortable stretch is late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 62°F in May to about 79°F in July, though July and August bring more wet days. Big Meadows Reservoir Boating Site sits just 0.1 mile away, and Big Meadows Campground is about 0.4 mile off. The South Fork Rio Grande, a canoeing route, is about 0.6 mile away. Climbers will find the Big Meadows climbing area roughly 1.3 miles from the loop.