Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs

Sourdough

SourdoughPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
29.2 mi
round trip
949 ft
climb
10,289 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Sep
best months

Is Sourdough 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.

Sourdough is a hard hike of about 29 miles in the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a one-way climb of about 950 feet, from a low point of roughly 8,650 feet to a high of about 10,290 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 68°F with lows near 43°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The trail is on natural surface and allows horses. Fourmile Creek is about 0.7 miles away, and Windy Ridge is about 1.4 miles away. Gordon Gulch campground and North Boulder Creek are both within about 2 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Ruby Gulch Dispersed Camping

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 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 Sourdough

    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, 1 mi away at 9,828 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Fourmile CreekPhoto: Vic Dillahay, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Fourmile Creek

~1 min drive

1.55-mile out-and-back trail at 8,862 ft elevation in Colorado.

Niwot MountainPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Niwot Mountain

~6 min drive

1.15-mile trail in Colorado with 800 ft elevation gain

Niwot RidgePhoto: John Game, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Niwot Ridge

~6 min drive

5.29-mile out-and-back trail on Niwot Ridge in Colorado, 906 ft elevation gain.

Paiute PeakPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Paiute Peak

~7 min drive

Route to the summit of Paiute Peak (13,012 ft) from Niwot Picnic Area.

Windy RidgePhoto: jefbrr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Windy Ridge

~2 min drive

0.78-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 405 ft elevation gain.

Waldrop (North)Photo: leighannemcc, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Waldrop (North)

~6 min drive

4.68-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 268 ft gain.

Beaver CreekPhoto: PACarlson, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Beaver Creek

~8 min drive

13.81-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,094 ft elevation gain.

Kiowa PeakPhoto: matthewevans1991, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Kiowa Peak

~8 min drive

Route to the summit of Kiowa Peak (13,156 ft) from Long Lake Trailhead.

Switzerland Trail Colo. & North Western R. R.Photo: jefbrr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Switzerland Trail Colo. & North Western R. R.

~4 min drive

3.44-mile trail in Colorado with 200 ft elevation gain and 8,500 ft max elevation.

Brainard Lake Cutoff TrailPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail

~7 min drive

1.1-mile out-and-back trail near Brainard Lake, Colorado with 160 ft elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors