On The Trail

Fremont County & the surrounding area boasts more than 20 trailheads. These trails will lead you to explore the great Colorado mountains, canyons & countryside...

For more information on hiking in Colorado & the following trails, please visit a local bookstore or mountaineering shop for a trail guide or topographical map.

1) Arkansas Riverwalk - Easy
6 miles · In Cañon City along the Arkansas River, winding through forests and wetlands. Trailheads are at Sell Ave. (off 9th St.) to the west and Ash Street to the east.

2) Garden Park Fossil Area Interpretive Trail - Easy
6 miles north of Cañon City, this easy, where many different species of dinosaurs have been discovered.

3) Macey Lakes - Easy 16 miles · Rather gentle and very scenic. Access is off the Rainbow Trail south of Horn Creek Trailhead.

4) Mosca Pass - Easy
6 miles · The lowest crossing of the main section of the Sangres, offering a wonderful view to the south of Blanca Peak. Featuring many good car-camping spots.

5) Newlin Creek Trail - Easy
5.5 miles · Trailhead off Hwy 67 just south of Florence, in the San Isabel National Forest, crossing through pine and fir forests as it climbs 1360'.

6) Red Canyon Park Trails - Easy
Red Canyon Park is a 600 acre wonderland (just 10 miles north of Cañon City off Red Canyon Road) with many trails to the amazing red rock formations and vertical spires.

7) Sand Gulch Trail - Easy
A secluded hike (just north of Cañon City off Red Canyon Road) offers tremendous views of the Sangre de Cristo Range as well as beautiful canyon scenery and wildlife.

8) The Bank - Easy
Just north of Sand Gulch (and including part of the Shelf Road Climbing Area), this area of BLM land offers trails, spectacular views, wildlife and camping.

9) Tunnel Drive - Easy
2 miles · This trail is flat (except for the 1st 200 yards) following the Arkansas River making its way through 3 granite tunnels. Trailhead at the west end of Cañon City off Hwy 50.

10) Rainbow Trail - Easy/Moderate
Accessed from the trailhead by the Alvarado Campground south of Westcliffe, running along the base of the 14,000' Sangre de Cristo Range. It features grand views of the Sangres, the Wet Mountain Valley, diverse wildlife, wildflowers and aspen groves.

11) Beaver Creek Trail - Moderate
Located northeast of Hwy 67/Florence, off Phantom Canyon Road, providing solitude as it follows the Beaver Creek above Penrose. A popular trail when the mountains are still snow-packed.

12) Big Cottonwood Trail - Moderate
10 miles · Located ~ 3 miles west of Cotopaxi off Big Cottonwood Road, a favorite for fishermen.

13) Comanche Lake - Moderate
9 miles · Trailhead located at the Alvarado Campground, one of the most popular in the Sangres.

14) Cottonwood Creek Trail - Moderate
8 miles · A favorite of outfitters and campers, leading to a large, grassy basin. Access south off the Rainbow Trail from the Alvarado Campground.

15) Goodwin Lakes - Moderate
12 miles · A popular destination for hikers and fishermen to 3 medium-sized lakes. Access off the Rainbow Trail north of Alvarado Campground.

16) Hermit Trail - Moderate
12 miles · Used by 4-wheelers as well as hikers. Featuring 3 lakes and was the setting of much of the John Belushi movie, "Continental Divide.

17) Horn Lakes - Moderate
5 miles · Trailhead located at the end of Horn Road, south of Westcliffe, leading to a large basin at Horn Lake with great camping.

18) Lake of the Clouds Trail - Moderate
10 miles · A steep upper section leads to 3 mountain lakes in a basin known for its own weather microsystem. Accessed from the Gibson Trailhead off Hermit Rd in Westcliffe.

19) Music Pass - Moderate
8-12 miles · (Length depends on where you park your vehicle). The view is considered one of the most scenic valleys in the range. Located south of Westcliffe on Hwy 69.

20) North Taylor Trail - Moderate
10 miles · One of the most spacious valleys in the Sangres. Trailhead south of the Gibson Trailhead. Megan Lake lies at timberline and is the crash site of a WWII military plane.

21) South Colony Trail - Moderate
12 miles · Leads to the very popular Crestones: Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle. The deeply rutted road is heavily traveled by brave drivers as well as hikers.

22) Stultz Trail - Moderate
3 miles · Located 7 miles south of Cañon City on Oak Creek Grade (CR 143), traversing forest, scrub oak and high-mountain meadows as it climbs in elevation.

23) North Colony Trail - Moderate/Difficult
18 miles · Not the steepest trail in the range, but its length makes it one of the more lightly-used trails. Features include a waterfall and a series of rock outcroppings.

24) Temple Canyon Trail - Moderate/Difficult
10 miles south of Cañon City off Temple Canyon Road, following Grape Creek which flows through "The Temple", a natural rock formation that is said to be haunted.

25) Venable Lakes - Moderate/Difficult
12 miles · A popular trail to the Venable Falls, one of the most scenic in the Sangres. The trailhead is located at Alvarado Campground.

26) Marble Cave Trail - Difficult
12 miles · The Marble Caves, with stories of hidden Conquistador gold and chained-up skeletons. Accessed between South Colony Road and Music Pass Road.

27) Stout Creek Trail & Bushnell Lake Trail - Difficult
The Stout Creek Trail, (off the Rainbow Trail), offers a steep trek to some of the best waterfalls in the state. From the same trailhead is to Bushnell Lake at 11,500'.

28) Tanner Trail - Difficult
7 miles · 10 miles south of Cañon City on Oak Creek Grade (CR 143), climbing to over 9,000 feet and offering spectacular views of the Arkansas River Valley.

29) Texas Creek Trail - Difficult
16 miles · Accessed from the Gibson Trailhead off the Rainbow Trail, ends at a huge boulder field at timberline.