Colorado Mines Peak–Bill Moore Lake, 5 sights is a 9.8-mile out-and-back in Arapaho National Forest near Empire, CO. The route passes Bill Moore Lake before reaching Colorado Mines Peak at the turnaround, 4.9 miles in. It climbs 3,025 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi11,316 – 13,114 ft · steepest grade: 22%10.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.80425, -105.70941
Nearest town Empire, CO
Directions
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Colorado Mines Peak–Bill Moore Lake, 5 sights
9.8 mi · ▲ 3,025 ft · 4 hr 47 min
Elevation 11,315–13,115 ft
Out & Back · Arapaho National Forest
Trailhead: 39.80425, -105.70941
Weather Sep 4: Light snow, high 63°F / low 45° · precip 30% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Bill Moore Lake.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Mill Creek Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Mount Flora Trail, heading S.
- 4.6 miBear left onto Mines Peak Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miReach Colorado Mines Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Mount Flora Trail, heading NE.
- 4.4 miBear right onto Mill Creek Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
90% other10% dirt
Weather
Light snowTemperature 63°F45°
Precip30%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity39%
Rained 0.3″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°45°
Sunrise 6:35 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sat
61°45°
26%
Sun
70°46°
50%
Mon
61°44°
44%
Tue
64°41°
39%
Wed
68°43°
45%
Thu
68°44°
46%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~125 min). Leave by 5:06 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Bill Moore Lake & Mill Creek Ridge Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,180 ft
- Bill Moore Lake–Colorado State Land Road, 3 sights 6.7 mi · ▲ 2,059 ft
- Bill Moore Lake–Bill Moore Lake Road Loop, 4 sights 6.8 mi · ▲ 1,626 ft
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