| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS | SUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS | MAPS | VIDEOS | BLOGS | MARKETPLACE | CONTESTS |
 |
|
|
|
Boulder, CO: Arapahoe Glacier Trail
From coniferous forests to intimate alpine lakes to views of the Continental Divide, this 12-miler offers classic Rocky Mountain scenery.
Map Tools
Share Trip
- E-mail Trip
- Embed Map
- Social Bookmarks more bookmarks...
Download To
Create A Trip
Related Topics
Share your tales of travel & adventure with our step-by-step guide. Upload trail descriptions, photos, video, and more.
| Author: | Backpacker Magazine |
| Activity: | Hiking |
| State: | Colorado (CO) |
| Distance: | 11.55 mi |
| Difficulty: | 5 / 10 |
| USGS Topo Map: | Ward, Monarch Lake |
| Rating: | Unrated |
A strenuous trek into the heart of Indian Peaks Wilderness, the Arapahoe Glacier Trail is a 6-mile-long sustained climb through spruce and pine stands and mountaintop tundra that culminates with a 12,800-foot-high lookout next to the Continental Divide.
The first half of this heart-pounder is a shady, tree-covered journey with occasional views of
TO TRAILHEAD: From downtown Boulder: Head northwest on Broadway Street/CO-93. Turn left onto Canyon Road. Continue for 14.6 miles. Turn right onto Hurricane Hill Drive. Make a slight left onto Ridge Road. Turn right onto Peak to Peak Highway/CO-72. Continue north and turn left at the sign for the University of Colorado's Mountain Research Center. Bear left at the fork in the dirt road and follow it past Rainbow Lakes Campground. Parking for Rainbow Lakes and Glacier Rim Trailheads is immediately after the campground on the right side of the road.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
Arapahoe Glacier Trail
| Distance: 11.55 mi | Points: 413 |
Points of Interest
AGT001
Location: 40.010656, -105.571489Glacier Rim Trailhead: Bear right onto Arapahoe Glacier Trail.
AGT002
Location: 40.016934, -105.571060On the left side of the trail, a break in the trees reveals a sweeping panorama of Boulder County and the surrounding mountains.
AGT003
Location: 40.023283, -105.586486After switchbacking uphill for a short distance, the trail begins to climb up a steep grade.
AGT004
Location: 40.022973, -105.592894After hiking a few miles through pine and spruce cover, the trail reaches wide open space. From here, the thin, crushed granite singletrack travels west toward a series of long switchbacks.
AGT005
Location: 40.022995, -105.597496Pass Goose and Silver lakes on the right. Continue east for a short distance, then turn up the mountain.
AGT006
Location: 40.014494, -105.614152After following the switchbacks along the north face of the first mountain, reach a saddle with 360-degree views. West of this point, the Continental Divide stretches north to south. Eldora Ski Resort and Bald Mountain are directly south. Boulder and Denver are to the far east. After marveling at this scene, follow the ridgeline trail over a rocky, crushed granite trail.
AGT007
Location: 40.015783, -105.643888Arapahoe Glacier Lookout: The Arapahoe Peaks form a bowl to the left. To continue further, bear left and continue 3 miles to Arapahoe Pass. To turn back, retrace steps back to Glacier Rim Trailhead.
Glacier Rim Trailhead
Location: 40.010721, -105.571060©MacKenzie Ryan
Boulder County and the surrounding mountains
Location: 40.016802, -105.570803©MacKenzie Ryan
Views to the South
Location: 40.020779, -105.579214©MacKenzie Ryan
Fallen Trees
Location: 40.021108, -105.576468©MacKenzie Ryan
Breaking through the tree cover
Location: 40.022685, -105.585566©MacKenzie Ryan
Above Treeline
Location: 40.022619, -105.590630©MacKenzie Ryan
Island and Silver Lakes
Location: 40.023079, -105.588312©MacKenzie Ryan
Goose Lake and its headwaters
Location: 40.017952, -105.607967©MacKenzie Ryan
Trail up the mountain
Location: 40.021075, -105.597754©MacKenzie Ryan
The Saddle
Location: 40.015257, -105.612259©MacKenzie Ryan
Eagle soaring past the saddle
Location: 40.013548, -105.625649©MacKenzie Ryan
En route to the lookout
Location: 40.013548, -105.636377©MacKenzie Ryan
Easternmost mountain at Arapahoe Glacier Lookout
Location: 40.015060, -105.642772©MacKenzie Ryan
South Arapahoe Peak
Location: 40.015685, -105.643673©MacKenzie Ryan
North Arapahoe Peak
Location: 40.015422, -105.643287Related Trips
Comments Post a comment
0 Trip Comments
National Parks Hall of Fame
The best videos, photos, and beta
from Denali to the Smokies.
GearFinder
Find all the outdoor equipment you need.
Photo & Video Center
Essential gear, instruction, and more.
GPS Trails App for iPhone & Android
Locate, research, plan, and save trips on your smartphone.
