Colorado · Hiking · Mount Zirkel Wilderness

Lost Ranger

10.8 mi
round trip
2,397 ft
climb
10,897 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Lost Ranger open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Lost Ranger is a hard hike in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, part of the Parks Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in Colorado. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail runs on natural surface. Horses are allowed. The route is an out-and-back of about 10.8 miles, with a one-way climb of about 2,400 feet. It starts at roughly 8,450 feet and reaches about 10,900 feet at the high point. Several other outings sit within a few miles. Lone Pine and Bear Creek are both hikes about 3 miles away, and the Grizzly-Helena Trail is a little farther. For paddling, the Roaring Fork is about 3 miles off.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Gold Creek LakePhoto: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gold Creek Lake

~11 min drive

14.26-mile out-and-back trail to Gold Creek Lake in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

Mica BasinPhoto: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mica Basin

~13 min drive

5.46-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 1,359 ft gain.

Bear LakesPhoto: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bear Lakes

~9 min drive

2.13-mile out-and-back trail to Bear Lakes in Colorado with 30 ft of elevation gain.

Three Island LakePhoto: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Three Island Lake

~11 min drive

11.40-mile out-and-back hike to Three Island Lake in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

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Lone Pine

~5 min drive

7.12-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,617 ft gain and 10,837 ft max elevation.

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Grizzly-Helena Trail

~5 min drive

1.58-mile trail in Colorado with 400 ft of elevation gain.

Wyoming TrailPhoto: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wyoming Trail

~12 min drive

17.71-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,830 ft gain and 11,148 ft max elevation.

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Grizzly Helena Trail 1126.1

~8 min drive

9.51-mile trail in Colorado with 1,800 ft of elevation gain.

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BIGHORN LAKE

~5 min drive

2.24-mile out-and-back trail to Bighorn Lake in Colorado with 823 ft elevation gain.

GilpinPhoto: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gilpin

~13 min drive

12.06-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 2,317 ft gain.