Indian Peaks Wilderness: Weekend Backpacking Guide

Day 1 of 3

Fourth of July Trailhead to Caribou Lake

Start at the Fourth of July Trailhead at 10,121 feet, already well above Boulder's elevation. The trail climbs steadily through spruce-fir forest before breaking out above treeline around 11,000 feet. The landscape opens dramatically: tundra, talus, and the long ridge of the Continental Divide ahead.

4 stopsDay one

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

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   Drive from where are you driving from?~45 min · unpaved road to the trailhead · Drive

   The Fourth of July Trailhead is 45 minutes west of Boulder on unpaved road (high-clearance recommended in early season). Boulder is about 45 minutes from Denver, and Nederland is 20 minutes from the trailhead, so either makes a good acclimatization base before you head up.

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   Fourth of July Trailhead (10,121 ft)Trailhead · already above Boulder · Hike

   Start at the Fourth of July Trailhead at 10,121 feet, already well above Boulder's elevation. The trail climbs steadily through spruce-fir forest before breaking out above treeline around 11,000 feet, where the landscape opens dramatically into tundra, talus, and the long ridge of the Continental Divide ahead.

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   Arapaho Pass (11,906 ft)High point · Continental Divide views · Viewpoint

   Push to Arapaho Pass at 11,906 feet, the high point of the main route and one of the great Continental Divide viewpoints in the Front Range. On a clear morning you can see west into the Williams Fork Mountains and east across the plains toward Denver. From the pass, descend the west side into the upper Arapaho Creek drainage.

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   Camp at Caribou LakePermit required · designated sites only · lodge

   Camp at Caribou Lake (permit required, designated sites only). The lake sits in a glacial cirque at about 11,500 feet with views back up toward the Divide. Set up early, afternoon thunderstorms are routine in July and August. Water from the lake needs filtering; a Sawyer Squeeze or SteriPen works well at altitude.

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Day 2 of 3

Explore: Lake Dorothy & Arapaho Glacier

With your gear at Caribou Lake, Day 2 is exploration. The most rewarding option: hike up to Lake Dorothy (about 1.5 miles each way from Arapaho Pass, passing through tundra and boulder fields). Lake Dorothy sits in a high cirque directly below the Arapaho Glacier, Colorado's southernmost glacier remnant. It is one of the most remote-feeling spots in the Front Range despite being reachable in an afternoon.

3 stopsDay two

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

1. ⠿↑↓1
   Lake Dorothy~1.5 mi each way · below the Arapaho Glacier · Hike

   With your gear at Caribou Lake, hike up to Lake Dorothy (about 1.5 miles each way from Arapaho Pass, passing through tundra and boulder fields). Lake Dorothy sits in a high cirque directly below the Arapaho Glacier, Colorado's southernmost glacier remnant, one of the most remote-feeling spots in the Front Range despite being reachable in an afternoon.

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   Arapaho Peak scramble (13,502 ft)Class 2 · ~700 ft over a mile · optional · Viewpoint

   For a longer day, from Lake Dorothy scramble up the talus to Arapaho Peak (13,502 ft) for a full 360-degree view of the Indian Peaks. This is a Class 2 route, no technical gear required, but bring trekking poles and solid footing. The climb from Lake Dorothy adds roughly 700 feet over a mile, and Arapaho Glacier is visible from the talus above Lake Dorothy.

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   Second night at Caribou LakeBack at camp by early afternoon · lodge

   Be back at camp by early afternoon to read, filter water, and watch for pikas and marmots on the surrounding talus slopes. Lightning is possible every afternoon, so stay below the ridgeline if clouds build. Keeping the same base means no packing up between your two days at the lake.

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

1. ⠿↑↓1
   North Fork Middle Boulder Creek~9 mi · mostly downhill · less traveled · Hike

   For a true loop, descend from Caribou Lake via the North Fork Middle Boulder Creek trail instead of retracing your steps. This route drops through the upper watershed, passing through willows and wildflower meadows before re-entering spruce-fir forest. It is less traveled than the Arapaho Pass corridor and often has better wildlife sightings, moose in the willows are common in early morning.

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   Close the loop at Fourth of July Trailhead~17 mi total over two nights · Viewpoint

   The trail eventually connects back to the Fourth of July Trailhead via the lower trail network, closing the loop at roughly 9 miles. This makes the full trip approximately 17 miles over two nights, manageable for most fit hikers and an ideal introduction to Colorado alpine backpacking.

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