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:
Setting:
Length:
East Portal Trailhead to Arapaho Lakes is 3 miles
Difficulty:
Time:
Trailhead Elevation:
Elevation Change:
Season:
Useful Map(s):
Camping Info
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.
