Colorado · Hiking

Wagon Wheel

Wagon WheelPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.7 mi
round trip
10 ft
climb
9,098 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Jul
best months

Is Wagon Wheel open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Wagon Wheel is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Dillon Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, about 0.7 miles long and rising about 10 feet from a low point of 9,031 feet to a high of 9,098 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes both allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dillon show July highs around 75°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs stay around freezing. The trail sits right next to Prospector Campground, about 0.1 mile away, and Windy Point, a mountain biking area, is about 0.2 mile off. Busted Axel is about 0.3 mile away, and Dillon Reservoir is about 0.7 mile away.

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go · Jun–Jul

    Best time to visit Wagon Wheel

    Best months: June–July. 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

      31° / 1°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      33° / 4°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 10°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      47° / 18°

      11 wet

    5. May

      58° / 26°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      69° / 33°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 38°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 37°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 30°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 21°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 11°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      32° / 3°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dillon 1 E, CO, 1.7 mi away at 9,065 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Windy PointPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Windy Point

Next door

3.55-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 35 ft of elevation gain.

Prospector BoulderingPhoto: schvin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Prospector Bouldering

~1 min drive

1.45-mile out-and-back bouldering trail in Colorado with 159 ft gain

Swan Mtn Bike PathPhoto: zappowbang, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Swan Mtn Bike Path

~1 min drive

3.27-mile out-and-back bike path in Colorado on White River National Forest.

Sapphire Point TrailPhoto: zappowbang, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sapphire Point Trail

~2 min drive

0.57-mile loop in Colorado's White River National Forest with 50 ft gain.

Ridge TrailPhoto: jjes84, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ridge Trail

~2 min drive

2.76-mile out-and-back Ridge Trail in Colorado gains 1,096 ft.

Meadow Loop TrailPhoto: schvin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Meadow Loop Trail

~2 min drive

1.1-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 385 ft elevation gain.

Soda CreekPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Soda Creek

~3 min drive

7.12-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 396 ft gain.

Trail near Sapphire PeakPhoto: supercraigtalbert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Trail near Sapphire Peak

~2 min drive

0.42-mile out-and-back trail near Sapphire Peak in Colorado.

Buzz Saw EastPhoto: supercraigtalbert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Buzz Saw East

~2 min drive

1.80-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 20 ft of elevation gain.

CrossoverPhoto: supercraigtalbert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crossover

~2 min drive

0.47-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 111 ft of elevation gain.