Caribou Lake–Caribou Pass, 3 saddles
11 mi · ▲ 3,009 ft · 5 hr 10 min
Caribou Lake–Caribou Pass, 3 saddles is an 11-mile out-and-back in Arapaho National Forest near Tabernash, CO. The route passes Caribou Pass before reaching Caribou Lake at the turnaround, 5.5 miles in. It climbs 3,009 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 91/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Caribou Lake–Caribou Pass, 3 saddles
11 mi · ▲ 3,009 ft · 5 hr 10 min
Elevation 10,079–12,116 ft
Out & Back · Arapaho National Forest
Trailhead: Junco Lake Trailhead · 40.04458, -105.73229
Weather Sep 4: Heavy drizzle, high 69°F / low 44° · precip 18% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:32 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on High Lonesome Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Caribou Pass Trail, heading S.
- 3.3 miPass Caribou Pass.
- 2.1 miContinue straight onto Caribou Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftReach Caribou Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Arapaho Pass Trail, heading NW.
- 5.4 miBear left onto High Lonesome Trail, heading N.
- 450 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~95 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 7:32 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Junco Lake Trailhead Trailhead
- High Lonesome Trail 2 mi · ▲ 175 ft
- High Lonesome Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 201 ft
- High Lonesome Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 194 ft
- High Lonesome Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 194 ft
- High Lonesome Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 221 ft
- High Lonesome Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 257 ft
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Hikes near Tabernash, Colorado