Colorado · Hiking · Near Guffey

Longwater

7.4 mi
round trip
536 ft
climb
8,886 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 18 h ago

Is Longwater open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 8 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

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

Longwater is a hard hike in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests, within the South Park Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back of about 7.4 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 536 feet, starting at a low point of 7,239 feet and reaching a high of 8,886 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trailhead is called Longwater Trailhead. The route is open year-round, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes allowed. That makes it a versatile option for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Divide put July highs around 74°F with lows near 47°F, while winter highs stay in the low 30s. Platte Springs is less than a mile away, and the Platte River Trail is about 1.3 miles off. Climbers can head to Black Dog Rock, about 2.5 miles away, and Happy Meadows Campground is about 3.5 miles away for an overnight base.

Around this trail

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

    Happy Meadows Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Mountain Burger

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 9 mi
  • If it rainsJeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Cripple Creek District Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 24 mi from Guffey

    History museum in Cripple Creek, Colorado

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

More in Guffey

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Longwater

    Best months: June–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

      33° / 9°

    2. Feb

      34° / 11°

    3. Mar

      41° / 17°

    4. Apr

      47° / 23°

    5. May

      57° / 31°

    6. Jun

      69° / 41°

    7. Jul

      74° / 47°

    8. Aug

      71° / 45°

    9. Sep

      65° / 38°

    10. Oct

      54° / 27°

    11. Nov

      42° / 18°

    12. Dec

      33° / 12°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Divide 4nw, CO, 10.8 mi away at 9,134 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.