AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Rainbow Lake, Colorado.jpg
Nolabob · CC BY-SA 4.0

Rainbow Lake–Blue River Rec Path, 6 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 1,790 ft · 5 hr 38 min

Rainbow Lake–Blue River Rec Path, 6 sights is a 14.2-mile out-and-back near Breckenridge, CO. The route reaches Rainbow Lake at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 1,790 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi9,184 – 9,915 ft · steepest grade: 19%16.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Gondola Ski Back-Parking Lot Access 39.48388, -106.04920
Nearest town Breckenridge, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rainbow Lake–Blue River Rec Path, 6 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 1,790 ft · 5 hr 38 min

Elevation 9,182–9,915 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Gondola Ski Back-Parking Lot Access · 39.48388, -106.04920

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Transit-accessible: Mountain Thunder stop 61 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Gondola Ski Back-Parking Lot Access, heading E.
  2. 400 ftTurn left, heading N.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue River Rec Path, heading N.
  5. 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
  6. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  7. 300 ftBear left, heading NE.
  8. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
  9. 200 ftBear right, heading NW.
  10. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit County Recreational Pathway, heading N.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  13. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  14. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  15. 2.3 miBear left onto Gold HIll Trail, heading N.
  16. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Ophir Mountain Road, heading W.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  18. 1.9 miBear right onto Peaks Trail, heading N.
  19. 350 ftPass Rainbow Lake.
  20. 0.1 miSharp left onto Miners Creek Road, heading NE.
  21. 100 ftSharp right onto South Rainbow Trail, heading NE.
  22. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  23. 450 ftReach Rainbow Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.1 miSharp left onto Miners Creek Road, heading NW.
  25. 150 ftSharp right onto Peaks Trail, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miBear left onto Ophir Mountain Road, heading NW.
  27. 1.8 miTurn left, heading NE.
  28. 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  29. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Gold HIll Trail, heading SE.
  30. 0.9 miBear right onto Summit County Recreational Pathway, heading SE.
  31. 2.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  32. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  33. 0.4 miBear right onto Blue River Rec Path, heading SW.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  35. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  36. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  37. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  38. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  39. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  40. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
  41. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  42. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  43. 300 ftContinue straight onto Gondola Ski Back-Parking Lot Access, heading S.
  44. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/rainbow-lake-blue-river-rec-path-out-back-6-sights-23-km

Trail surface

46% dirt40% paved14% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 7:29 PM

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Transit-accessible: Mountain Thunder stop 61 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Gondola Ski Back-Parking Lot Access Trailhead

Hikes near Breckenridge, Colorado