Rainbow Lakes
A short, gentle walk to a string of forest-ringed lakes and beaver ponds on the edge of the Indian Peaks Wilderness.
About Rainbow Lakes
Rainbow Lakes is one of the easiest ways into the Indian Peaks Wilderness. From a trailhead northwest of Nederland, a mellow path climbs through spruce and lodgepole to a chain of small lakes and beaver ponds, the highest sitting at roughly 10,250 feet. It is a great outing for families, a quick evening leg-stretcher, or an altitude warm-up before bigger Indian Peaks days.
To get there, drive north from Nederland on CO-72 about seven miles, turn west at the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station sign, and follow rough, unpaved Forest Road 298 for about five miles to the trailhead beside Rainbow Lakes Campground. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
The same trailhead also launches the much bigger Arapaho Glacier Trail, so you can pair a calm lakeside sunset with a scouting trip toward the Continental Divide.
An easy, short hike west from the Rainbow Lakes Trailhead into the Indian Peaks Wilderness, leading to a series of small lakes and beaver ponds. It's a good option when you want wilderness access without committing to a full day, and the string of small ponds gives you several reflection options within a short walking distance of each other.
History
The trail (USFS Trail #918) and trailhead sit in the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, just inside the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The approach road passes the University of Colorado's Mountain Research Station, a long-running high-elevation field site. The lakes themselves are glacial and beaver-shaped wetlands strung along a forested bench below the Arapaho peaks, with several visible from the trail but not reached by it. The Forest Service recently rebuilt the trailhead just east of the campground to better handle demand.
Photographing Rainbow Lakes
Best light: The lakes sit in trees with the Arapaho high country to the west, so calm early mornings give the best reflections before wind picks up. Late June through July brings wildflowers along the wet margins, and the last light of evening warms the treetops while the water stays glassy.
Shots to look for
- Low-angle reflections of spruce and sky in the first lake, using lily pads or shoreline grasses as foreground with a 16-35mm
- Beaver dams and pond outlets as leading lines into the forest
- Telephoto details of moose or waterfowl in the wetlands at dawn (70-200mm or longer)
- Intimate forest scenes of fallen logs and moss along the creek crossing on overcast days
Photo tips
- Bring bug spray in early summer; the ponds breed mosquitoes
- A circular polarizer helps cut glare and show submerged rocks and logs in the shallow lakes
- Drones are prohibited in designated wilderness, which begins right along this trail
- Moose frequent the wetlands; give them a wide berth and use a long lens
- Download the fee-payment app before you go since cell service is unreliable
Know before you go
- Forest Road 298 is unpaved, rough in spots and gated in winter; high clearance is recommended
- Day-use fee per vehicle (America the Beautiful pass accepted); check current rates with the Boulder Ranger District
- Indian Peaks Wilderness rules apply: no campfires, groups capped at 12 people and stock combined, camping 100 ft from water and trails
- Dispersed camping is not allowed within a quarter mile of Rainbow Lakes Road
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Rainbow Lakes hike?
It is a short out-and-back of roughly 3 miles round trip with very little elevation gain, making it one of the easiest Indian Peaks hikes.
Do I need a 4x4 to reach Rainbow Lakes?
Not necessarily, but the Forest Service recommends a high-clearance vehicle for the roughly five miles of unpaved road from CO-72.
Is there a fee at Rainbow Lakes Trailhead?
Yes, there is a per-vehicle day-use fee, and overnight wilderness permits are required in summer. Check the Boulder Ranger District page for current rules.
Featured in: Easy Colorado Hikes With Big Views · Best Alpine Lake Hikes in Colorado
Combine it with
Arapaho Glacier Trail · Brainard Lake Recreation Area · Nederland · Lost Lake
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: fs.usda.gov · fs.usda.gov · 10adventures.com. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.