Colorado · Hiking · Mount Zirkel Wilderness

Rainbow Lakes

15.3 mi
round trip
2,274 ft
climb
11,355 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Rainbow Lakes open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Rainbow Lakes is a hard hike in Colorado's Mount Zirkel Wilderness, part of the Parks Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back route of about 15 miles, with a total elevation gain of about 2,274 feet, starting at a low point of roughly 9,086 feet and reaching a high of about 11,355 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is on natural surface, with horses allowed. The Rainbow Lake Trailhead is the parking for the trip, and the route is open year-round. The closest neighbors are the Aqua Fria Trail and the Grizzly-Helena Trail, both about 2 miles away, and the Slide Trail at about 3 miles. For an overnight base, Teal Lake Group Campsite sits about 4 miles off.