Molly Brown
Campground
Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville
Rift
- 1.9 mi
- loop
- 109 ft
- climb
- 9,952 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- Jun–Jul, Sep
- best months
Is Rift open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Leadville Ranger District. It doesn't name Rift, so check the source for the area it covers.
Willow Fire Area Closure
Agency closure covering Leadville Ranger District · Order 02-12-01-26-39 · USFS · Leadville Ranger District
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel and Annex Area closure
Agency alert covering Leadville Ranger District · Order 02-12-01-26-19 · USFS · Leadville Ranger District
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Leadville Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Rift is a short, easy loop hike in the Leadville Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 1.9 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 109 feet, and it runs from a low point of about 9,883 feet to a high of about 9,952 feet. The route is a loop, and the climb is gentle, making it a quick outing. Bikes are allowed on the natural-surface trail, and the trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Leadville Lake run to highs around 71°F in July and 68°F in August, with lows near 39°F. Winters are cold, with January highs around 30°F. The trail sits right next to Molly Brown campground and the Mountain Bike Trail near Tennessee Creek, both about 0.1 mile away. Baby Doe campground and the Lateral hike are each about 0.3 mile off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after La Mina Tacos Y Mariscos
Restaurant
On your way back · 3 mi
If it rainsCraig Talbert, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Craig Talbert, CC BY 3.0 (commons)
More in LeadvilleGo with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkNexPM AI · $25 per person · 3 mi away
- Arrowhead Point Campground and Cabins29 mi away
Molly BrownCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain0.1 mi- Mountain Bike Trail near Tennessee CreekMountain biking0.1 mi
Baby DoeCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain0.3 mi- LateralHiking0.3 mi
- Matchless Boating SiteLake fishing0.8 mi
Tennessee CreekCanoeingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)2.9 mi- That's No Moon BoulderRock climbing4.4 mi
- Weston Pass-(Weston Wall)Rock climbing7.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Turquoise Lake NatureHiking · Next doorPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
West Dyer MountainHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: christinejwarner, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Rock CreekHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
BUSK CREEKHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: Altitude10k, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Fallen TreeHiking · Next doorPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Mount ElbertHiking · ~15 min drivePhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Mount Massive East SlopesHiking · ~15 min drivePhoto: Gaep13 at en.wikipedia), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- Busk Creek TrailHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: Altitude10k, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- BodfishHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Colorado Trail Seg. 10 Hagerman Pass Road to Halfmoon CreekHiking · ~15 min drivePhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Rift
Best months: June–July 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.
Jan
30° / 5°
10 wet
Feb
31° / 6°
10 wet
Mar
37° / 12°
11 wet
Apr
43° / 19°
11 wet
May
54° / 27°
9 wet
Jun
66° / 34°
7 wet
Jul
71° / 39°
12 wet
Aug
68° / 38°
13 wet
Sep
61° / 32°
9 wet
Oct
50° / 24°
8 wet
Nov
37° / 13°
9 wet
Dec
29° / 5°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Leadville Lake Co Ap, CO, 3.1 mi away at 9,932 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
