Colorado · Hiking

Prairie

2.5 mi
round trip
72 ft
climb
4,386 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Prairie open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 7 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.

The Prairie is an easy, 2.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Comanche Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado. It sits at an elevation of about 4,300 feet, with a high point of roughly 4,386 feet and a low point of about 4,307 feet. The trail is managed by the Forest Service. The route is on gravel and is open year-round. Bikes and horses are both allowed, which makes it a practical choice for riders and equestrians. That makes the trail a flexible option for a short outing on foot or on horseback. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at La Junta put May highs around 77°F and September highs around 83°F, with July peaking near 93°F. The Mesa hike is about 0.3 miles away and Vogel Canyon is about 0.5 miles away. Withers Canyon Trailhead offers camping about 7.8 miles off, and the climbing area The Don Wall is about 9 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–May, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Prairie

    Best months: April–May and September–October. 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

      47° / 17°

      3 wet · 2 snow

    2. Feb

      50° / 20°

      3 wet · 2 snow

    3. Mar

      60° / 28°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      67° / 37°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      77° / 47°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      89° / 58°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      93° / 63°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      90° / 61°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      83° / 52°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      71° / 37°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      57° / 27°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      47° / 18°

      3 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at La Junta 20 S, CO, 2.2 mi away at 4,210 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.