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Arapaho Lakes Trail

Basics
Location:
20 miles west of Boulder
Setting:
Mountainous
Length:
7 mile roundtrip
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Time:
3.5 to 4.5 hours
Trailhead Elevation:
9200 feet
Elevation Change:
-1900 feet
Season:
June - October

Description

Trail intersections are unmarked and often unnoticed. This trail system is in dense subalpine forest, along creeks which lead to dozens of sparkling green lakes. Most of the lakes lie at or above treeline in delicate alpine tundra ecosystems - please be careful where you walk and camp.

A mile and a half up the Forest Lakes Trail #809 from where it leaves the South Boulder Creek Trail #900, the Arapaho Lakes Trail forks west. It follows the steep stream tributary for 1 mile to Arapaho Lakes.

Length: East Portal Trailhead (TH) to: Forest Lakes Trail - 1.2; Heart Lake - 4.2 miles; Rogers Pass - 4.6 miles; Crater Lake - 3 miles; Arapaho Lakes - 3 ½ miles; Forest Lakes - 4 miles. Forest Lakes TH to: Forest Lakes - 1/4 mile; Arapaho Lakes - 2 miles. DISTANCES ARE ONE-WAY.

Details

Location:
20 miles west of Boulder
Setting:
Mountainous
Length:
7 mile roundtrip
East Portal Trailhead to Arapaho Lakes is 3 miles
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Time:
3.5 to 4.5 hours
Trailhead Elevation:
9200
Elevation Change:
-1900
Season:
June - October
Useful Map(s):
USGS Maps: East Portal and Empire quads
Camping Info
Camping permitted

Map + Directions

Basic Directions

Travelling south from Nederland, west of Boulder, on CO 119, go west out of Rollinsville on gravel County Road 16 (a.k.a. Moffat Road or Rollins Pass Road).

Drive 7 miles to the end of County Road 16 (Road 16 ends at a T-junction).

Go left 1 mile to park at the East Portal TH or, if you have a high-clearance vehicle, go right and drive an additional 11 miles on a native surface road, to park at the Forest Lakes TH.

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