Colorado · Hiking · Rawah Wilderness · Near Red Feather Lakes

West Branch

West BranchPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
13.6 mi
round trip
2,558 ft
climb
11,117 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Sep
best months

Is West Branch open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Canyon Lakes Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

West Branch is a 13.55-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado managed by Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. The route gains 2,558 feet of elevation and reaches a maximum elevation of 11,117 feet.

Around this trail

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

    Tunnel Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.1 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Homestead Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 16 mi from Red Feather Lakes

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Red Feather Lakes

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit West Branch

    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

      31° / 11°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      33° / 10°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      40° / 15°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 20°

      10 wet

    5. May

      55° / 28°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      68° / 36°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 43°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      72° / 41°

      14 wet

    9. Sep

      65° / 34°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 25°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 18°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      31° / 11°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Hourglass Rsvr, CO, 14.2 mi away at 9,520 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.