Colorado · Hiking · Weminuche Wilderness

Highline

HighlinePhoto: cogdogblog, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)
19.0 mi
round trip
1,204 ft
climb
12,652 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Highline open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Rio Grande National Forest. It doesn't name Highline, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Rio Grande National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Highline is a 19-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness, part of the Divide Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest. The trail climbs from about 11,391 feet to 12,652 feet, a gain of 1,204 feet, and is rated hard. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trailhead is at Highline Trailhead, which is open year-round. The route is natural-surfaced and allows horses, but not bikes. That makes it a practical choice for riders on horseback, and the trail's length and elevation make it a serious outing rather than a short day on foot. Hunters Lake lies just 0.3 miles away, and Sawtooth is about 4 miles off. For an overnight base, Big Meadows Campground is roughly 6 miles away. Climbers can head to Long Cliff, about 5.5 miles from the trail.