AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Indian Peaks Wilderness

Paiute Peak–Red Rock Lake, 7 sights

15.7 mi · ▲ 4,267 ft · 7 hr 22 min

Paiute Peak–Red Rock Lake, 7 sights is a 15.7-mile out-and-back in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Ward, CO. The route passes Red Rock Lake before reaching Paiute Peak at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 4,267 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 80/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi10,046 – 13,213 ft · steepest grade: 30%16.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.07981, -105.53162
Nearest town Ward, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Paiute Peak–Red Rock Lake, 7 sights

15.7 mi · ▲ 4,267 ft · 7 hr 22 min

Elevation 10,047–13,214 ft

Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness

Trailhead: 40.07981, -105.53162

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 400 ftContinue straight onto Waldrop Trail, heading NW.
  3. 300 ftContinue straight onto Sourdough Trail, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Waldrop Trail, heading NW.
  5. 0.6 miPass Red Rock Lake.
  6. 500 ftBear left, heading NW.
  7. 1.4 miBear left onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.2 miBear left onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading SW.
  10. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail, heading W.
  11. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  12. 100 ftTurn left onto Beaver Creek Trail, heading W.
  13. 1.7 miBear left onto Mount Audubon Trail, heading N.
  14. 3.1 miReach Paiute Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 3.1 miBear right onto Beaver Creek Trail, heading E.
  16. 1.7 miTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 100 ftTurn left onto Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail, heading SW.
  18. 0.2 miContinue straight onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftBear right onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading NE.
  21. 0.2 miBear right onto Waldrop Trail, heading NE.
  22. 1.4 miBear left, heading E.
  23. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Sourdough Trail, heading SE.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Waldrop Trail, heading SE.
  25. 250 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/paiute-peak-red-rock-lake-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:31 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.7 mi in (~246 min). Leave by 3:05 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ward, Colorado