Arapaho Pass Trail - Hiking trail near Nederland, Colorado, United States - Description

Trail Highlights:

• From the Fourth of July TH, the Arapaho Pass Trail climbs the wooded, northern slope of the North Fork, Middle Boulder Creek drainage into the Indian Peaks Wilderness and to the Fourth of July Mine (elevation 11,245).

• At the mine, the Arapaho Glacier Trail #905 intersects. The Arapaho Pass Trail continues west on an old road 1.2 miles to Arapaho Pass (elevation 11,906).

• For a side trip, continue west along the ridge for about 0.25 miles to visit Lake Dorothy (elevation 12,061). The Caribou Trail continues on an impressive old road, blasted into a cliff, to Caribou Pass. Some parts of this trail are narrow and not for the faint of heart.

• The Arapaho Pass Trail continues north (right) and drops 750 feet down a series of switchbacks to Caribou Lake. From here, a nine-mile hike on this trail leads to Monarch Lake.

From Nederland, head south on Colorado Highway 119 for 0.5 miles. Turn west onto County Road 130 (Eldora Ski Resort sign). Stay on the main road and through the town of Eldora.

• Once the pavement ends continue another five miles to the Fourth of July Trailhead. This portion of the road is rough but passable in a passenger car during the summer months.

• This trailhead sees extremely high use, especially on weekends, and parking is limited.