Middle Rainbow Lake
- 0.4 mi
- round trip
- 51 ft
- climb
- 7,936 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Middle Rainbow Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Boise National Forest. It doesn't name Middle Rainbow Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.
UPDATED Sept. 19 - Crooked Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure
Agency closure covering Boise National Forest · Order 0402-03-140 · USFS · Boise National Forest
Lava Fire Road Closure
Agency alert covering Boise National Forest · Order 0402-06-84 · USFS · Boise National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Boise National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Middle Rainbow Lake is a short, easy hike in the Mountain Home Ranger District of Idaho's Boise National Forest, about 7.5 miles from the town of Paradise Hot Springs. The trail is an out-and-back of roughly 0.38 miles, with a one-way climb of about 51 feet from a low point of 7,899 feet to a high of 7,936 feet. The route is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, so it works for a quick walk or a ride on a mountain bike. It's a simple outing that fits easily into a day of exploring the surrounding lakes and trails. Big Rainbow Lake lies just 0.2 miles away, and the Old Pack Trail and Heart Lake are each about 0.3 miles off. For an overnight stay, Big Roaring River Lake Campground is about 2.3 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Camp Perkins37 mi away
- Riverpond Campground45 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Big Rainbow Lake
Next door
0.60-mile out-and-back trail to Big Rainbow Lake in Idaho.
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Old Pack Trail
Next door
2.4-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,502 ft gain/loss
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Rainbow Basin
~3 min drive
8.94-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,057 ft gain.
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UPPER SHEEP CREEK
~6 min drive
14.62-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,539 ft gain/loss and 8,263 ft max elevation.
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Heart Lake
Next door
0.27-mile out-and-back trail to Heart Lake in Idaho with 82 ft of elevation gain.
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TRINITY CREEK UPPER
~5 min drive
3.30-mile loop trail in Idaho with 1,075 ft elevation gain and loss.
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TRINITY CREEK LOWER
~6 min drive
10.1-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,500 ft elevation gain and loss.
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SHEEP MOUNTAIN
~19 min drive
17-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 5,373 ft elevation gain.
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Little Lookout Lake
~1 min drive
0.05-mile loop trail at Little Lookout Lake in Idaho
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MINERAL CREEK
~11 min drive
4.12-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,271 ft elevation gain and loss.
