Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Rainbow Trailhead

From Coloradohikingtrails

Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Rainbow Trailhead
Climb through Ponderosa pine, fir, lodgepole, juniper and grassy meadows to the summit of Crosier Mountain. Great views of the Estes Park Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Fast Facts
Distance(Miles):	3.75 one-way
Trail Surface & Condition:	Dirt-Rocky in places
Other Trail Users:	Bicycles, Dogs, Horses
Ownership:	National Forest
Best Seasons:	Year around, weather permitting
Type:	Out-&-Back, with 2 cars can combine with a 2nd trail
Beginning Elev (Feet):	7,024
Ending Elev (Feet):	9,225
Elevation Gain (Feet):	2,201
Difficulty Rating:	11.9
Rainbow Trailhead GPS Coordinates:	Latitude: 40.457028 Longitude: -105.426033
Crosier Mountain GPS Coordinates:	Latitude: 40.4323167 Longitude: -105.4254333

Trailhead Information

Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Garden Gate Trailhead
Near To: Glen Haven and Drake, Colorado

Driving Directions To Trailhead From Drake on Hwy 34, take the Devils Gulch Rd. (County Rd. 43) for 6 miles. Look for a large cut on the south side of the road. The trailhead is just before Road 51B, which takes you to the North Fork Trailhead. No facilities.

Downloadable PDF topographic map of Crosier Mountain with the locations of the various Crosier Mountain Trailheads waypointed on the map.

Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Garden Gate Trailhead

Elevation: 6,417'

Maps & Images Lat: 40.457028 Long: -105.426033

Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps

Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth

Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

Trail & Hike Description

There are three trails up Crosier Mountain, each with a separate description. With two vehicles, you can combine two of the trails. See Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Glen Haven Trailhead and Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Garden Gate Trailhead for descriptions of the other routes.

The Rainbow Trail is steep and has several switchbacks as it climbs 1.8 miles and joins the Glen Haven trail coming in from the west. At the junction, look for an old cabin downhill and to the left of the trail. This was the cabin of Matt Malmberg, who is thought to have been a trapper and stonemason around the 1890's.

At the trail junction, turn left and climb another 1.5 miles through a thick stand of Lodgepole pine. You will summit a ridge, where the trail joins the Garden Gate Trail. From here, another 1/2 mile will bring you to the summit of Crosier Mountain.

The summit of Crosier Mountain offers views of Estes Park, the peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park, and the surrounding countryside. Wildflowers are abundant. Be sure to carry plenty of water on this hike, as none is available on the hike.

External Links & References

Downloadable PDF topographic map of Crosier Mountain with the locations of the various Crosier Mountain Trailheads waypointed on the map

Crosier Mountain Trail Description on US Forest Service web site