Colorado · Hiking

Sunshine

SunshinePhoto: blt04, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5.3 mi
round trip
420 ft
climb
9,753 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Sunshine open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. It doesn't name Sunshine, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Sunshine is a 5.3-mile out-and-back hike on the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail starts at about 9,237 feet and climbs to 9,753 feet, a gain of 420 feet, on natural terrain. Bikes are allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Spicer weather station show July highs around 77°F with lows near 42°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the climb run cooler. The hike is open year-round, and two other routes, Duster and Pete's Wicked Trail, start about 0.1 mile away. For an overnight, Meadows Campground is about 4.8 miles off, and Walton Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 2.4 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Sunshine

    Best months: June–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

      28° / 7°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      31° / 9°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      40° / 15°

      8 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 23°

      9 wet

    5. May

      59° / 30°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 36°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 42°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 40°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 34°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 25°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 16°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      29° / 9°

      8 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Spicer, CO, 16.6 mi away at 8,385 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

CATHY'S CUTOFFPhoto: blt04, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

CATHY'S CUTOFF

~1 min drive

0.87-mile loop trail in Colorado with 294 ft gain and 378 ft loss.

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Storm Peak Challenge

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Mountain View

~2 min drive

12.48-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 1,062 feet of elevation gain.

ElkheadPhoto: Greg Younger from Parker, Colorado, USA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Elkhead

~2 min drive

1.22-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 47 ft of elevation gain.

ThunderheadPhoto: oc14me, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Thunderhead

~3 min drive

3.9 mi · Moderate

Fish CreekPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Fish Creek

~5 min drive

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Vista Nature TrailPhoto: John Holm from Leadville, CO, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Vista Nature Trail

~2 min drive

1.70-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 63 ft of elevation gain.

Zig ZagPhoto: oc14me, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Zig Zag

~4 min drive

3.7 mi · Moderate

HIKE

Pioneer

~3 min drive

7.05-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 1,038 ft gain.

Spur RunPhoto: blt04, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Spur Run

~2 min drive

2.14-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 471 ft gain.