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Local Mountain Trailheads
SOUTH SOURDOUGH TRAIL: From U.S. Highway 72, drive west on Brainard Lake Road to the winter closure gate, about 3 miles. Trail is just east of the gate. Moderate, 5.5 miles one way, 900-foot elevation loss, mountain bikers allowed. RED ROCK LAKE: From U.S. Highway 72, drive west on Brainard Lake Road to the winter closure gate, about 3 miles. Continue through gate to the parking lot. Easy, 0.75 mile one way to Red Rock Lake, 100-foot elevation gain. BRAINARD LAKE LOOP: From U.S. Highway 72, drive west on Brainard Lake Road to the winter closure gate, about 3 miles. Continue through the gate to the parking lot. Easy, 1.2 miles, 70-foot elevation gain. RAINBOW LAKES: From U.S. Highway 72 take County Road 116 west 4.2 miles. Bear left at 0.75 mile. Trailhead is at the end of the road at the western edge of the Rainbow Lakes campground. Easy, 2 miles, 300-foot elevation gain. ARAPAHOE GLACIER TRAIL: From U.S. Highway 72 take County Road 116 west 4.2 miles. Bear left at 0.75 mile. Trailhead is at the end of the road at the northwestern edge of the Rainbow Lakes campground. Moderate-challenging, 5 miles, 1,240-foot elevation gain.
BURRO TRAIL LOLLIPOP LOOP: From Boulder, take Highway 93 south toward Golden, turn right at Golden Gate Canyon Road and follow 13 miles, follow signs to Bridge Creek Trailhead. Moderate, 5 miles, 800-foot elevation gain, dogs allowed. HORSESHOE TRAIL: From Boulder, take Highway 93 south, turn right at Golden Gate Canyon Road and follow 13 miles to the Visitor’s Center. Hike starts from trail from Frazer Meadow Trailhead. Easy-moderate, 1.8 miles, 1,000-foot elevation gain, dogs allowed.
CARIBOU RANCH: From Nederland, follow County Road 126 west off Colorado Highway 72 (Peak-to-Peak Highway), going 2 miles north to the parking lot. The casual 4.5-mile roundtrip trail is open to hikers and equestrians. Great for bird-watching, since no bikes or dogs are allowed. Culturally diverse sites include a former prospector’s ranch in the middle of a meadow, and the Blue Bird Mine complex on a side trail.
BUCHANAN PASS TRAIL AND MIDDLE SAINT VRAIN CREEK: From U.S. Highway 72, head south past the Peaceful Valley turnoff 3.5 miles south of Raymond. Take the second turnoff on the right (west) after Peaceful Valley. Turnoff signs include Peaceful Valley Campground, Forest Access, Camp Dick and Forest Road 114. Easy-moderate, 10.8 miles round trip to tree line, 1,360-foot elevation gain. CONEY FLATS TRAIL: From U.S. Highway 72, travel south 3 miles past the Peaceful Valley turnoff. Turn right (west) onto County Road 96. Trail is on the right (north) side of the road after the Beaver Reservoir. Easy-moderate, 7 miles, 600-foot elevation gain. CERAN ST. VRAIN TRAIL AND MILLER ROCK: From the west side of Lyons, take U.S. Highway 7 to U.S. Highway 72. Turn left (east) onto County Road 94 (also called Overland Road or James Canyon Drive). After 2 miles, turn left (north) onto Riverside Drive. The Ceran St. Vrain trailhead is 0.5 miles down the road. Moderate, 4 miles (6 miles with a climb up Miller Rock), 400-foot elevation gain (900 ft. with Miller Rock), mountain bikers allowed. DIAMOND LAKE TRAIL: From the town of Eldora, drive west for 1.5 miles on Colorado 119 to a signed junction. Take a right (north) and drive 4.5 miles to the trailhead, which is just beyond Buckingham Campground. Diamond Lake Trail starts a half mile northwest of the Fourth of July trailhead. Moderate, 5 miles, 840-foot elevation gain.
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