Backpacking Areas

• Boulder Ranger District, west of Boulder

  The Boulder Ranger District encompasses over one hundred thousand acres of the Front Range in western Boulder and northern Gilpin counties. The district includes Indian Peaks and James Peak Wilderness Areas and the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.

  Many areas of the district are within an easy two-hour drive of Denver and its suburbs, making this one of the top recreation destinations in the state.

• Beaver Reservoir Trailhead

  Limited parking is available on the east side of private Beaver Reservoir, along County Road 96, for access to the Sourdough Trail.

  View a trail map here.

• Beaver Reservoir Cutoff (#851)
• Brainard Lake Recreation Area

  Brainard Lake Recreation Area is set in a glacially carved valley offering visitors spectacular panoramic views of Brainard Lake, surrounding subalpine forest, and high peaks along the Continental Divide. Because of the area's high elevation, snow typically remains until July. For road updates, check Boulder Ranger District Road Status.

  CAUTION: Several trailheads, such as Long Lake and Mitchell Lake trailheads, lead west into Indian Peaks Wilderness. Visitors entering the Wilderness are responsible for following all Indian Peaks Wilderness regulations and permit requirements. Dogs must be on a leash in the Wilderness.

  Requirements – A parking reservation is required to park inside Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Visit Brainard Lake Recreation Area Seasonal Information to purchase parking reservations and view seasonal regulations for camping, pets, shooting, skiing, and more.

• Beaver Creek Trailhead

  Beaver Creek Trailhead is adjacent to the same parking area as the Mitchell Lake Trailhead at the west end of the Brainard Lake Recreation Area (BLRA). Parking is available for 60 vehicles. Trailhead hosts are available to answer questions on summer weekends. This trailhead provides access to the Beaver Creek Trail.

  Hiking trails to the west of the BLRA enter into the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Visitors that hike trails leading west from the Long Lake or Mitchell Lake Trailhead, are responsible for following all Indian Peaks Wilderness Regulations and permit requirements.

  View an area map here.

  This trailhead is open seasonally. For current information on road openings and closures, check the Road Status Table.

• Beaver Creek (#911)
• Red Rock Trailhead

  Red Rock Trailhead is one of four trailheads for the Sourdough Trail and serves as the winter trailhead for Brainard Lake Recreation Area.

  View an area map here.

• Bright Extension Trailhead

  Located 2.2 miles east of County Road 82E on the south side of Johnny Park Road (National Forest System Road 118), the trailhead is marked with a small sign near a minor saddle. This trailhead provides access to the Bright Extension Trail.

  Acccess to the trailhead is seasonal. For current information on road openings and closures, check the Road Status Table.

  View an area map here.

• Bright Extension (#827)
• Bright Trailhead

  The Bright Trailhead is perched on the south rim of the North Saint Vrain Creek canyon, and is accessible by Taylor Mountain four-wheel drive road (National Forest System Road 330). Parking is limited. This trailhead provides access to the Bright Trail and is accesssible by vehicle part of the year.

  View an area map here.

  For current information on road openings and closures, check the Road Status Table.

• Bright (#921)
• Buchanan Pass Wilderness Trailhead
• Coney Lake (#914)
• Coulson Gulch Trailhead

  Coulson Gulch Trailhead provides access to Coulson Gulch Trail.

  View an area map here.

• Coulson Gulch (#916)
• Dry Saint Vrain Trailhead

  The Dry Saint Vrain Trailhead provides access to the Dry Saint Vrain Trail. Four-wheel drive is recommended and parking is limited.

  View an area map here.

• Dry Saint Vrain (#920)
• East Portal Trailhead

  Provides access to South Boulder Creek Trail, Forest Lakes Trail, Crater Lakes Trail, Ute Trail and the Continental Divide Trail inside the James Peak Wilderness.

  View an area map here.

• Crater Lakes (#819)
• Forest Lakes (#809)
• South Boulder Creek (#900)
• Forest Lakes Trailhead
• Forsythe Canyon (#852)
• Fourth of July Trailhead

  This trailhead is accessed by five miles of rough, two-wheel-drive road. It is exceedingly popular, and parking is limited, especially on summer weekends. In winter, motorized access is typically not possible. Fourth of July Trailhead provides access to  Arapaho Pass, Diamond Lake, and  Arapaho Glacier Trails inside the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

  At this trailhead is a small campground owned and operated by the City of Boulder called Buckingham Campground. Private property also exists in this area. Do not trespass.

  • COTREX Map
  • Caribou and Crater Lake Designated Campsite Map
• Arapaho Pass (#904)
• Diamond Lake (#975)
• Front Range Trailhead
• Hessie Trailhead

  Hessie Trailhead provides access to Indian Peaks Wilderness and  Devils Thumb,  Lost Lake,  King Lake,  Woodland Lake and  Diamond Lake trails. Approximately one mile of trails leading west lie outside the Indian Peaks boundary. West of the boundary, wilderness regulations apply and permits are required for camping. This trailhead is extremely popular during the summer months and parking is limited. Please use the Boulder County Hessie Shuttle on summer and fall weekends and holidays. In winter, access is typically from the town of Eldora. Parking is limited and located near the trailhead and Hessie Cabin.

  • COTREX Map
  • Diamond & Jasper Lake Designated Campsite Map
• Devils Thumb (#902)
• King Lake (#901)
• Lost Lake (#813)
• Woodland Lake (#811)
• James Peak Lake Trailhead

  This trailhead provides access to the James Peak Lake and Ute trails. Four-wheel drive is required for driving to James Peak Lake Trailhead. This road is not plowed in the winter.

  View an area map here.

• James Peak Lake (#804)
• Ute (#803)
• Middle Saint Vrain Trailhead

  Middle Saint Vrain Trailhead lies at the west end of Camp Dick Campground. There is parking for 30 vehicles, with room for a small horse trailer. Four-wheel-drive high clearance vehicles may be able to continue four miles west on the rough Middle Saint Vrain Road (National Forest System Road 114) to Buchanan Pass Trailhead. Middle Saint Vrain Trailhead provides access to Buchanan Pass Trail and the Middle Saint Vrain four-wheel-drive road.

  The Middle Saint Vrain road and trailhead access are open seasonally: Road Status Table. The Motor Vehicle Use Map is available online.

• Buchanan Pass (#910)
• Saint Vrain Glacier (#917)
• Rainbow Lakes Trailhead

  Located east of the Rainbow Lakes Campground, this newly constructed trailhead provides access to the Rainbow Lakes and Arapaho Glacier Trails inside the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

  Vehicle access to this trailhead is seasonal. For current information on road openings and closures, check the Road Status Table.

  View an area map here.

• Arapaho Glacier (#905)
• Rainbow Lakes (#918)
• Saint Vrain Mountain Trailhead

  Saint Vrain Mountain Trailhead is the trailhead for the Saint Vrain Mountain Trail (#915) which enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The trailhead can accomodate about 12 parked vehicles.

  View an area map here.

• Saint Vrain Mountain (#915)
• Sourdough Trailhead

  The Sourdough Trailhead is the main trailhead for the Sourdough Trail #835 and is the trails southernmost access point.

  View an area map here.

• Sourdough (#835)
• South Saint Vrain Trailhead

  The South Saint Vrain Trailhead is the trailhead for the east end of the South Saint Vrain Trail (#909). Parking is very limited, allowing room for only two or three vehicles.

  View an area map here.

• South Saint Vrain (#909)
• Canyon Lakes Ranger District, west of Fort Collins

  Canyon Lakes Ranger District is located in north-central Colorado and encompasses approximately 650,000 acres in the Roosevelt National Forest, mostly in Larimer County. The Canyon Lakes Ranger District offers visitors a variety of recreation opportunities throughout the year, and also provides for traditional uses, such as permits for firewood gathering and grazing. We are home to four Wilderness areas, three national recreation trails, two historic districts, and Colorado’s only Wild and Scenic River.

  State Highways 34, 36 and 14 allow for easy access to one of our many hiking trails, campgrounds, four-wheel drive roads, and lakes and streams.

• Beaver Creek (#942)
• Big South (#944)
• Blue Lake (#959)
• Brackenbury (#935)
• Browns Lake (#941)
• Bulwark Ridge (#928-1)
• Comanche Lake (#990)
• Corral Creek (#989)
• Crosier Mountain Garden Gate (#931)
• Crosier Mountain Glen Haven (#931-2)
• Crosier Mountain Rainbow (#981)
• Donner Pass (#926)
• Emmaline Lake (#945)
• Fish Creek (#993)
• Flowers (#939)
• Granite Ridge (#991)
• Green Ridge/Lost Lake
• Greyrock #946/Greyrock Meadows #947
• Hewlett Gulch (#954)
• Homestead Meadows
• Hourglass (#984)
• Killpecker (#956)
• La Poudre Pass Trailhead
• Lady Moon (#985)
• Lily Mountain (#933)
• Link (#963)
• Link-McIntyre Trailhead
• Lion Gulch (#949)
• Little Beaver Creek (#948)
• Lookout Mountain (#934)
• Lower Dadd Gulch (#988)
• McIntyre (#966)
• McIntyre Creek (#996)
• McIntyre Lake (#964)
• Medicine Bow (#965)
• Miller Fork (#997)
• Mount Margaret (#167)
• Mummy Pass (#937)
• North Fork (#929)
• North Lone Pine (#953)
• Rawah (#961)
• Roaring Creek (#952)
• Round Mountain (#969)
• Signal Mountain (#928-2)
• Stormy Peaks (#980)
• Trap Park (#995)
• West Branch (#960)
• Young Gulch (#999)
• Zimmerman (#940)
• Zimmerman Lake (#977)
• Clear Creek Ranger District, near Idaho Springs

  Located along the I-70 corridor of Clear Creek County in the town of Idaho Springs, Clear Creek Ranger District manages approximately 200,000 acres in four different counties. Come climb a mountain 14,000 feet above the ocean's tides, take a relaxing drive through the Rocky Mountains, or wet your fishing line in one of the many alpine lakes and streams. 

• Bard Creek (#83)
• Beartrack Lakes (#43)
• Beaver Meadows (#44)
• Berthoud Pass Trailhead
• Bierstadt Trailhead
• Captain Mountain (#46)
• Chicago Lakes (#52)
• Cub Creek (#40)
• Cub Creek Trailhead
• Grays Peak (#54)
• Grays Peak Trailhead
• Guanella Pass Trailhead
• Hells Hole (#53)
• Hells Hole Trailhead
• Herman Gulch (#98)
• Herman Gulch Trailhead
• Jones Pass Trailhead
• Lost Creek (#42)
• Resthouse Meadows (#57)
• Silver Dollar Lake (#79)
• Silver Dollar Lake Trailhead
• South Chicago Creek (#90)
• South Chicago Creek Trailhead
• St. Mary's Glacier Trailhead
• Summit Lake Trailhead
• Upper Goliath Trailhead
• Watrous Gulch (#95)
• Sulphur Ranger District, near Winter Park & Granby

  Recreational opportunities abound in this haven located high up in the Rocky Mountains. The Sulphur Ranger District is over 442,000 acres in Grand County, Colorado. Being surrounded by mountain peaks, meadows and lakes, you are in for a truly majestic experience in this forest.

  Summers are filled with mountain biking near the towns of Winter Park and Fraser, hiking or backpacking in one of the five Wilderness areas or in the Arapaho National Recreation Area (ANRA), and enjoying the wildflowers and wildlife.

  Many of the hiking trails are also open to equestrians. The Three Lakes of Grand, Granby and Shadow Mountain are great places to escape with your boat or a fishing pole for a day. The Stillwater area next to the town of Grand Lake has miles of trails for off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts. Camping cannot be overlooked either with 15 campgrounds and nearly 500 campsites.

• Bowen Gulch (#119)
• Byers Peak Trailhead

  The Byers Peak Trailhead provides access to the Byers Peak Wilderness.

  This is an unconventional trailhead in that hikers must travel over 1.8 miles of road before arriving at the trail to the peak. Visitors are welcome to bicycle this first 1.8 miles and leave the bicycle at the provided bike rack.

  Note: The access road to this trailhead is closed to motor vehicles between Nov. 15 and June 15.

  View a COTREX area map here.

• Byers Peak (#12)
• Darling Creek Trailhead

  The Darling Creek Trailhead is located near the South Fork Campground in the Williams Fork area.

  View a COTREX area map here.

• Darling Creek (#18)
• Devils Thumb Trailhead
• Doe Creek Trailhead

  The Doe Creek Trailhead is located in the Arapaho National Recreation Area and provides access to many trails in the Doe Creek Trail System.

  There are no facilities and there is parking for 8 vehicles.

  View a COTREX area map here.

• Junco Lake Trailhead

  The Junco Lake Trailhead is located in the Arapaho National Recreation Area and provides access to several trails in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. 

  View a COTREX area map here.

  Note: The access road to this trailhead is closed to motor vehicles between November 15 and June 15.

• Columbine Lake (#11.1)
• Keyser Ridge Trailhead

  The Keyser Ridge Trailhead is a minor trailhead located near the Byers Peak Wilderness, providing access to both non-motorized and motorized trails.

  View a COTREX area map here.

  Note: The access road to this trailhead is closed to motor vehicles between Nov. 15 and June 15.

• Keyser Ridge (#19)
• Kinney Creek Trailhead

  Trailhead providing access to Byers Peak Wilderness via the Kinney Creek Trail #22.

• Horseshoe Lake (#23)
• Kinney Creek (#22)
• Lake Evelyn Trailhead

  The Lake Evelyn Trailhead provides access to several trails in the Byers Peak Wilderness. There are no facilities.

  Note: The access road to this trailhead is closed to motor vehicles between Nov. 15 and June 15. A 4-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle is recommend to reach this trailhead.

  View a COTREX area map here.

• Bottle Pass (#16)
• Lake Evelyn (#15)
• St. Louis Divide (#17)
• Lost Lake Trailhead

  The Lost Lake Trailhead is a minor trailhead that provides access to Lost Lake in the Stillwater Pass Area. There is parking for about 5 cars. There are no facilities.

  Horse trailer parking is limited.

  Note: The access road to this trailhead is closed to motor vehicles between Nov. 15 and June 15.

  View a COTREX area map here.

• Lost Lake (#30.1 & #30.2)
• Monarch Lake Trailhead

  Monarch Lake Trailhead is located in the Arapaho National Recreation Area and serves as a major access portal for Indian Peaks Wilderness. Facilities include parking for approximately 40 vehicles, restrooms and a wilderness information cabin.

  View a COTREX area map here.

   

• Arapaho Pass (#6)
• Buchanan Pass (#2)
• Cascade Creek (#1)
• Gourd Lake (#2.1)
• High Lonesome (#7)
• North Supply Trailhead

  North Supply Trailhead provides access to several trails in Never Summer Wilderness Area and Bowen Gulch Protection Area. There is parking available for 10 vehicles.

  Note: The access road to this trailhead is closed to motor vehicles between Nov. 15 and June 15.

  View a COTREX map here.

• Blue Ridge (#20)
• Parika Lake (#29.2)
• Roaring Fork Trailhead

  Roaring Fork Trailhead is located in Arapaho National Recreation Area and provides access to Indian Peaks Wilderness. There is parking for approximately 15 vehicles.

• Knight Ridge (#102)
• Roaring Fork (#3)
• Watanga Lake (#3.1)
• Rogers Pass Trailhead

  The Rogers Pass Trailhead is a high elevation, minor trailhead located in the James Peak Protection Area. The trailhead is located next to the Rifle-sight Trestle on the historic Moffat Railroad. There is parking for 3 or 4 vehicles.

  Note: A high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended to access this trailhead. The access road to this trailhead is closed from November 15 - June 15, but due to high snow levels, it typically does not become accessible until late June or early July.

  View a COTREX map here.

• Rollins Pass Trailhead

  The Rollins Pass Trailhead is located on the Continental Divide and provides access to the Indian Peaks Wilderness, James Peak Wilderness, the Moffat Railroad historical sites, and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. There is parking for about 15 vehicles.

  Note: A high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended to access this trailhead. The access road to this trailhead is closed from November 15 - June 15, but high snow levels typically don't allow access until late June or early July.

  View a COTREX map here.

• Rollins Pass (#5)
• South Fork (#21)
• South Fork Trailhead
• St. Louis Lake Trailhead

  The St. Louis Lake Trailhead is an unconventional trailhead. From this trailhead, hikers must travel 3 miles of road before arriving at the single-track trail to the lake. Visitors can bike the first 3 miles and leave them at the bike rack provided.

  Note: This trail is in the Fraser Experimental Forest. Camping is prohibited, except for within a 1 mile radius of St. Louis Lake.

  The access road to this trailhead is closed to motor vehicles between Nov. 15 and June 15.

  View a COTREX map here.

   

   

   

• St. Louis Lake (#14)
• Trail Creek Trailhead
• Ute Pass Trailhead

  The Ute Pass Trailhead is located on National Forest System Road 132 (County Road 3) on the Grand/Summit County Line. There is parking for approximately 15 vehicles in a large pull-off on the road.

  View a COTREX map here.

• Ute Peak Trailhead

  The Ute Peak Trailhead is a minor trailhead along National Forest System Road 138 (CR 30) in the Williams Fork Valley.

  View a COTREX map here.

• Williams Fork Trailhead
• Williams Peak Trailhead

  Minor trailhead along County Road 3 in the Williams Fork Valley. Parking for 2 or 3 vehicles.

• Wilderness areas

  The 1964 Wilderness act defines Wilderness as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain ... an area protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions."

  Wilderness helps protect critical habitats for a variety of species, as well as important natural resources, such as clean water. Wilderness also provides unique opportunities for recreation, challenge and solitude.

  Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests includes ten Wilderness areas that encompass many of Colorado's peaks and forested terrain which are popular with hikers, backpackers and mountain climbers.

  Please view the special regulations associated with Wilderness and always use Leave No Trace techniques to help keep these areas wild, clean and pristine.

  Wilderness areas at Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests:

  • Byers Peak Wilderness (Sulphur Ranger District)
  • Cache la Poudre Wilderness (Canyon Lakes Ranger District)
  • Comanche Peak Wilderness (Canyon Lakes Ranger District)
  • Indian Peaks Wilderness (Boulder and Sulphur Ranger Districts)
  • James Peak Wilderness (Boulder and Clear Creek Ranger Districts)
  • Mount Evans Wilderness (Clear Creek Ranger District)
  • Neota Wilderness (Canyon Lakes Ranger District)
  • Never Summer Wilderness (Sulphur Ranger District)
  • Rawah Wilderness (Canyon Lakes Ranger District)
  • Vasquez Wilderness (Sulphur Ranger District)

  Other Protected Areas

  • Fraser Experimental Forest
  • James Peak Protection Area
• Byers Peak Wilderness
• Cache la Poudre Wilderness
• Comanche Peak Wilderness
• Indian Peaks Wilderness
• James Peak Wilderness
• Mount Evans Wilderness
• Neota Wilderness: Arapaho & Roosevelt
• Never Summer Wilderness: Arapaho & Roosevelt
• Rawah Wilderness: Arapaho & Roosevelt
• Vasquez Peak Wilderness