Middle Derby
- 10.3 mi
- round trip
- 1,159 ft
- climb
- 10,122 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Middle Derby open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Limited parking at Snowmass Creek Trailhead
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Grizzly Creek Trail Closure
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · Order 2026-02 · USFS · White River National Forest
Ruedi Marina Day Use area Dump Station is CLOSED
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Asbestos safety closure - Camp Hale
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Middle Derby is a hard hike in the Eagle Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 10 miles, with a total climb of about 1,160 feet from a low point near 8,930 feet to a high of about 10,122 feet. The trail has a natural surface and is rated hard. Horses are allowed, and bikes are not. Several other outings sit close by. Bear Park is about 0.3 miles away, and Derby Ridge and Indian Cliffs are both within a mile. For an overnight stay, Cold Springs Campground is about 8 miles off.
Local outfitters
- Flat Tops Wilderness Guides10 mi away
- Rancho Del Rio24 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)North Derby
~12 min drive
4.35-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 757 ft gain and 11,197 ft max elevation.
Photo: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Mandall Lakes
~15 min drive
10.55-mile out-and-back trail to Mandall Lakes in Colorado with 1,565 ft gain.
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W. Mountain
~7 min drive
6.34-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 2,233 ft gain.
Photo: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Smith Lake
~13 min drive
1.44-mile out-and-back hike to Smith Lake in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.
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Roberts
~3 min drive
6.62-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,182 ft elevation gain.
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Ute - Sunnyside
~10 min drive
7.38-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 900 ft of elevation gain.
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Bear Park
Next door
1.15-mile out-and-back trail in Bear Park, Colorado with 325 ft of elevation gain.
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Sunnyside Lakes
~6 min drive
11.25-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 872 ft gain.
HIKE
South W
~12 min drive
5.63-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 541 ft gain.
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Hooper Lake Trail
~3 min drive
1.3-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 241 ft elevation gain.
