Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville

Rainbow Lake

1.0 mi
round trip
126 ft
climb
9,267 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Jul
best months

Is Rainbow Lake 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.

Rainbow Lake is a short, easy hike in the Dillon Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado, about a mile from the town of Dillon. The trail is an out-and-back that gains about 126 feet in elevation over its one-mile length, with the low point at 9,139 feet and the high at 9,267 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 75°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs stay around freezing. The trail is on natural surface and allows both horses and bikes. Henry Recen and the Rainbow Lake West mountain biking area sit about 0.1 mile away. Peak One Campground and Pine Cove Campground are both within about 1.6 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Frisco Area

    Campground

    Campground · 1.0 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 Rainbow Lake

    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, 4.8 mi away at 9,065 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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