Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs

Blue Sky

Blue SkyPhoto: edcrowle, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
3.1 mi
round trip
244 ft
climb
9,277 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Blue Sky open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Blue Sky is a 3.1-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, within the Sulphur Ranger District. The trail rises from about 9,019 feet to about 9,277 feet, a total gain of 244 feet, and is rated moderate. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced with horses allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Fraser put July highs around 77°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs sit around 31°F. That station sits roughly 700 feet lower than the trail's high point, so expect temperatures up top to run a bit cooler. The Twin Bridges Trailhead, about 0.1 mile away, is the parking for this stretch, and the trail's open season runs from June 1 to November 15. Ice Hill and the Twin Bridges mountain biking trail are also about 0.1 mile away, and Vasquez Road and Idlewild Campground are each about 0.8 mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Idlewild Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Star of India

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsUser:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Hamill House Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 15 mi from Idaho Springs

    Historic house-museum in Georgetown, Colorado, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Blue Sky

    Best months: June–August. 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.

    1. Jan

      31° / -1°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 2°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 11°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      51° / 20°

      8 wet

    5. May

      62° / 27°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 33°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 38°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 37°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 29°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 21°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 10°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      31° / -1°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Fraser, CO, 2.8 mi away at 8,560 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors