Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville

Mount Royal Trail

3.5 mi
round trip
1,382 ft
climb
10,498 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Jul
best months

Is Mount Royal Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.

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

Mount Royal Trail is a 3.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Dillon Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado. It starts at Rainbow Lake Trailhead, about 2.8 miles from the town of Frisco, and rises from a low point of about 9,100 feet to a high of 10,498 feet, a climb of roughly 1,380 feet one way. The Forest Service manages the trail, and it is rated moderate. The trail is natural-surfaced and open to horses and mountain bikes. It is not an accessible route. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 75°F and lows near 38°F, while temperatures at the top run cooler than that station's figures. The station sits about 1,400 feet lower, so expect the high point to be somewhat cooler. Halfway Stop, a mountain biking spot, lies about 0.1 mile away, and the Mount Royal climbing area near Frisco is about 0.3 mile off. Peaks Trail is about 0.4 mile away. For an overnight base, Peak One Campground is about 2 miles from the trail.

Around this trail

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

    Frisco Area

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Tavern West

    Pub

    On your way back · 1 mi · Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jeremy Olson, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go · Jun–Jul

    Best time to visit Mount Royal Trail

    Best months: June–July. 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

      31° / 1°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      33° / 4°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 10°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      47° / 18°

      11 wet

    5. May

      58° / 26°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      69° / 33°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 38°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 37°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 30°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 21°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 11°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      32° / 3°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dillon 1 E, CO, 5.2 mi away at 9,065 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Next door

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3.11-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 548 ft gain and 9,946 ft max elevation.

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~1 min drive

3.98-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 2,223 ft gain.

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Route details

Distance
3.5 mi round trip
Climbing
About 1,382 ft
Starts at
Rainbow Lake Trailhead (about 9,100 ft)
Summit
10,502 ft
Difficulty
Moderate

Getting there

Park at Rainbow Lake Trailhead.

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Mount Royal Trail on Royal Mountain?

About 3.5 mi round trip from Rainbow Lake Trailhead (about 9,100 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Mount Royal Trail?

About 1,382 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Mount Royal Trail?

It is rated moderate.

Where does the Mount Royal Trail start?

Rainbow Lake Trailhead (about 9,100 ft).

When is the best time for the Mount Royal Trail?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Royal Mountain

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.