Ringtail
- 5.1 mi
- round trip
- 176 ft
- climb
- 8,039 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Jul, Sep
- best months
Is Ringtail open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 8 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
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 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
Turquoise Lake Road (County Road 4) Closure
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Downed and weakened trees on South Platte Ranger District
Agency alert covering South Platte Ranger District · USFS · South Platte Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Ringtail is a moderate out-and-back hike of about 5 miles in the South Platte Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from about 7,500 feet to about 8,000 feet, with a total elevation gain of 176 feet. The route is natural-surface and allows both horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Bailey weather station, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 79°F with lows near 44°F, while September cools to highs around 71°F. Indian Creek Equestrian Campground sits about 0.4 miles away, and Indian Creek Campground is about 0.7 miles off. Climbers can find the Main Area about 0.9 miles away, and the Powerline Trail - USFS 800 is about 2.1 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Lostfork Basecamp31 mi away
- Camp Always Choose Adventures38 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Indian Creek Equestrian CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain0.4 mi- Indian Creek CampgroundCamping0.7 mi
- Main AreaRock climbing0.9 mi
- Watson Park CreekRock climbing1 mi
- Surrounding/Dispersed BouldersRock climbing1 mi
- beginner trail 627Mountain biking2.1 mi
Powerline Trail - USFS 800HikingPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)2.1 mi
Plum CreekCanoeingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)8.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Powerline Trail - USFS 800Hiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Carpenter Peak TrailHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Swallowtail TrailHiking · ~5 min drivePhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- North Fork TrailHiking · ~7 min drive
- Elk Valley TrailHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Indian CreekHiking · ~5 min drive
Sharptail TrailHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Kristal Kraft from Lone Tree, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Willow Creek Falls TrailHiking · ~5 min drivePhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Bear Mountain 693Hiking · ~5 min drive
- BEAR MOUNTAINHiking · ~5 min drive
Best time to visit Ringtail
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
38° / 9°
4 wet
Feb
40° / 10°
5 wet
Mar
48° / 18°
6 wet
Apr
54° / 23°
7 wet
May
63° / 31°
8 wet
Jun
75° / 38°
8 wet
Jul
79° / 44°
12 wet
Aug
77° / 43°
13 wet
Sep
71° / 35°
7 wet
Oct
59° / 24°
5 wet
Nov
45° / 16°
4 wet
Dec
37° / 9°
4 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bailey, CO, 20.1 mi away at 7,752 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
