Colorado · Hiking

Pinball Ridge

5.9 mi
round trip
487 ft
climb
9,914 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Pinball Ridge is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, about 5.9 miles long with an elevation gain of 487 feet. The trail runs from a low point of about 9,543 feet to a high of about 9,914 feet. The Forest Service manages the land. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the natural-surface trail. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Fraser weather station, about 3 miles away, show July highs around 77°F with lows near 38°F, and September highs around 68°F. Winter is cold, with January highs near 31°F and lows around -1°F. The trail's open season runs from June 1 to November 15. Idlewild Campground is about 2 miles away, and St. Louis Creek Campground is about 2.9 miles away. Vasquez Road, a climbing area, is about half a mile off, and Ho Chi Min, a mountain biking trail, is about 0.2 miles away.