Colorado · Hiking · Near Estes Park

Deer Ridge

3.7 mi
round trip
295 ft
climb
8,948 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Deer Ridge 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.

Deer Ridge is a moderate 3.7-mile out-and-back hike in the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado. It rises from about 8,350 feet to about 8,950 feet, a gain of about 295 feet, and the trail is managed by the Forest Service. The route is on natural surface and is open year round. Bikes and horses are both allowed. For comfortable weather, aim for July, when typical averages at the nearby Allenspark weather station run about 74°F for the high and 44°F for the low. That station sits roughly 450 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures up high run cooler. Wagener Trail starts just 0.2 miles away. Sandbeach Lake Trail is about 1.3 miles off, and Olive Ridge Campground and Meeker Park Overflow Campground are both within about 1.6 miles for an overnight stay.

Around this trail

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

    Olive Ridge Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Wild Basin Lodge & Event Center

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Matt Golon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Estes Park

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Deer 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.

    1. Jan

      32° / 14°

    2. Feb

      35° / 15°

    3. Mar

      42° / 20°

    4. Apr

      46° / 23°

    5. May

      56° / 32°

    6. Jun

      69° / 38°

    7. Jul

      74° / 44°

    8. Aug

      73° / 43°

    9. Sep

      66° / 36°

    10. Oct

      52° / 29°

    11. Nov

      41° / 20°

    12. Dec

      33° / 14°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Allenspark 3nw, CO, 0.3 mi away at 8,500 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Wagener TrailPhoto: Andrew Parlette — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wagener Trail

Next door

Wagener Trail is a 2.24-mile trail in Colorado with 400 feet of elevation gain.

Mount AlicePhoto: objectfox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mount Alice

~5 min drive

Route to the summit of Mount Alice (13,281 ft) from Wild Basin Trailhead (RMNP).

Wild Basin TrailPhoto: objectfox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wild Basin Trail

~5 min drive

6.6 mi · Moderate

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Longs Peak Trail

~7 min drive

A 13.66-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado that connects to the East Longs Peak Trail system.

Connector Trail Between Wb-22 And Wb-23Photo: raniel diaz, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Connector Trail Between Wb-22 And Wb-23

~3 min drive

1.76-mile out-and-back connector trail between WB-22 and WB-23 in Colorado.

Ogalalla PeakPhoto: objectfox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ogalalla Peak

~5 min drive

Route to the summit of Ogalalla Peak (13,081 ft) from Wild Basin Trailhead.

Hidden FallsPhoto: objectfox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hidden Falls

~6 min drive

0.8-mile out-and-back trail to Hidden Falls in Colorado with 253 ft gain.

HIKE

St Vrain Mountain

~9 min drive

13.32-mile out-and-back to St Vrain Mountain with 3,588 ft gain.

Allenspark - Finch Lake Trail ConnectorPhoto: nickavarvel, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Allenspark - Finch Lake Trail Connector

~5 min drive

0.64-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 217 ft elevation gain.

Copeland MountainPhoto: objectfox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Copeland Mountain

~5 min drive

Route to the summit of Copeland Mountain (13,166 ft) from Wild Basin Trailhead.