Dowdy Lake Campground
Campground
Campground · 1.4 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Red Feather Lakes
Columbine Ridge
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.9 mi
- round trip
- 223 ft
- climb
- 8,015 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Columbine Ridge open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Canyon Lakes Ranger District.
Salt Cabin Prescribed (RX) Fire Closure
Agency alert covering Canyon Lakes Ranger District · Order 02-10-05-26-11 · USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests · USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
West Crystal A - Mechanical Fuelbreak Area and Road Closure
Agency alert covering Canyon Lakes Ranger District · Order 02-10-05-26-04 · USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District
Cameron Peak Fire Road Closures
Agency alert covering Canyon Lakes Ranger District · Order 02-10-05-26-01 · USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Columbine Ridge is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 1.9 miles in the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado. The trail rises from a low point of 7,810 feet to a high of 8,015 feet, a climb of about 223 feet, and is managed by the Forest Service. The route is natural-surface and open to both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. It stays open year-round, and the closest town is Rustic, about 11 miles away. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July highs around 78°F with lows near 47°F, while winter highs sit in the mid-30s. The Columbine mountain biking trail lies just 0.2 miles away, and the Frog Pond West Loop is 0.4 miles off. Dowdy Lake Campground and Red Feather Lakes, a climbing area, are both within about 2.3 miles.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after If it rains Homestead Museum
Museum
Museum · 17 mi from Red Feather Lakes
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Red Feather LakesLocal outfitters
- Alpine Lodge at Red Feather Lakes3 mi away
- Wildcat Mountaineering43 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Columbine Ridge
Best months: May–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
36° / 15°
5 wet
Feb
36° / 15°
5 wet
Mar
44° / 20°
6 wet
Apr
49° / 25°
8 wet
May
59° / 32°
9 wet
Jun
72° / 40°
8 wet
Jul
78° / 47°
9 wet
Aug
76° / 46°
10 wet
Sep
69° / 38°
8 wet
Oct
56° / 29°
6 wet
Nov
44° / 21°
5 wet
Dec
36° / 15°
5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rustic 9wsw, CO, 11.3 mi away at 7,700 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Columbine Ridge Loop Trail
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Lady Moon
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Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Frog Pond West Loop Trail
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18.76-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,680 ft gain and max elevation 9,144 ft.
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Molly Moon
~6 min drive
4.24-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 136 ft gain and max elevation 8,544 ft.
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Columbine North Loop
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1.42-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 15 ft of elevation gain.
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Frog Pond Trail
~4 min drive
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Elkhorn Creek
~7 min drive
7.98-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 667 ft elevation gain.
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)East Dowdy Lake
~1 min drive
2.94-mile out-and-back to East Dowdy Lake in Colorado, 66 ft gain.
