Caribou Lake–Meadow Creek Reservoir, 5 sights
15.5 mi · ▲ 3,334 ft · 6 hr 50 min
Caribou Lake–Meadow Creek Reservoir, 5 sights is a 15.5-mile out-and-back in Arapaho National Forest near Tabernash, CO. The route passes Meadow Creek Reservoir and Caribou Pass before reaching Caribou Lake at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 3,334 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Caribou Lake–Meadow Creek Reservoir, 5 sights
15.5 mi · ▲ 3,334 ft · 6 hr 50 min
Elevation 10,025–12,116 ft
Out & Back · Arapaho National Forest
Trailhead: Grassy Area Road · 40.04986, -105.73571
Weather Sep 5: Light drizzle, high 67°F / low 48° · precip 7% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:30 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start on Grassy Area Road, heading W.
- 0.6 miPass Meadow Creek Reservoir.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right onto High Lonesome Trail, heading E.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Caribou Pass Trail, heading SE.
- 3.3 miPass Caribou Pass.
- 2.1 miReach Caribou Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 5.4 miBear left onto High Lonesome Trail, heading NW.
- 1.1 miBear left onto Caribou Road, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Grassy Area Road, heading S.
- 1 miArrive 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 4.9 mi in (~155 min). Leave by 4:35 PM for the 7:30 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from Grassy Area Road Trailhead
- Caribou Road 2 mi · ▲ 231 ft
- High Lonesome Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 323 ft
- High Lonesome Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 264 ft
- High Lonesome Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 329 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Tabernash, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Tabernash, Colorado