Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs

Rainbow Lakes

1.8 mi
round trip
226 ft
climb
10,262 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Sep
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is marginal · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 23 h ago

Is Rainbow Lakes open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Rainbow Lakes is an easy out-and-back hike in the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, about 1.8 miles long and gaining 226 feet from a low point of 9,986 feet to a high of 10,262 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface route that also carries horses. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Boulder 14 W show July highs around 68°F with lows near 43°F, while September still reaches about 59°F with the fewest wet days of the year. The trail sits close to Rainbow Lakes Campground and the Arapaho Glacier Connector Trail, both about 0.2 miles away. Horseshoe Creek lies about 1.1 miles off, and the Eldora climbing area is roughly 4.6 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Rainbow Lakes Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Knotted Root Brewing Company

    Bar

    On your way back · 4 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Matt Golon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Rainbow Lakes

    Best months: June and September. 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

      29° / 12°

      15 wet

    2. Feb

      28° / 11°

      16 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 17°

      16 wet

    4. Apr

      40° / 22°

      17 wet

    5. May

      50° / 29°

      16 wet

    6. Jun

      62° / 36°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      68° / 43°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      66° / 41°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      59° / 34°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      47° / 26°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      35° / 19°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / 12°

      15 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Boulder 14 W, CO, 2.4 mi away at 9,828 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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