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Earn stunning views of Mt. Neva and Dorothy Lake on this seldom used trail.


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Map Key

4.2

Miles

6.8

KM

Point to Point

12,068' 3,678 m

High

10,091' 3,076 m

Low

1,978' 603 m

Up

158' 48 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (5°)

22%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Permits are required for overnight stays in the Indian Peak Wilderness (IPW) from June 1 to September 15.

Parking in the Arapaho National Recreation Area (ANRA) at Monarch Lake or Meadow Creek and Junco Lake TH requires a daily use fee. $5 daily fee. Annual passes available.

Description

Starting from the Junco Lake trailhead, this trail begins as an old jeep road now closed to motorized vehicles. After a mile, the road forks and the right-hand fork leads to several tumbled down log cabins beside Meadow Creek.

Following the left fork, the road will skirt the northern edge of a long open meadow through which Meadow Creek flows. Here the trail enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. The trail continues to a junction. The right fork goes to Columbine Lake and Mt. Neva on Columbine Lake Trail. The left fork goes on a narrow footpath to Caribou Pass. Rock cairns mark the trail, even though it is well defined.

From Caribou Pass you can continue on to Arapaho Pass (elevation 11,906) and from there continue down to Monarch Lake, or return to Junco Lake trailhead.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tom Robson

Trail Ratings

  4.9 from 8 votes

#518

Overall
  4.9 from 8 votes
5 Star
88%
4 Star
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Trail Rankings

#103

in Colorado

#518

Overall
3 Views Last Month
5,936 Since May 5, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

Lake Dorothy is a lovely detour from the Caribou Pass Trail, just before it meets the Arapahoe Pass Trail.
Jul 4, 2017 near Fraser, CO
This view looks down from the trail to Lake Dorothy, toward the end of the Caribou Pass Trail/continuation of the Arapahoe Pass Trail.
Jul 4, 2017 near Fraser, CO
View to Northeast from Caribou Pass after ascent from Junco Lake Trailhead
Aug 14, 2019 near Fraser, CO
Lake Dorothy is a short detour from the Arapahoe (Caribou) Pass Trail just after the trail splits. It's highly recommended!
Jul 4, 2017 near Fraser, CO
Trail along lower meadow as you enter Indian Peaks Wilderness
Oct 11, 2018 near Fraser, CO
Path as marked from Caribou Pass to Arapahoe Pass is very exposed, narrow, and only suitable for experienced, sure-footed hikers. We turned back rather than risk crossing along steep snowpack,
Aug 14, 2019 near Fraser, CO
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jul 13, 2020
Kim W
Trail is dry, started at 13:00 blue skies until we got to caribou lake. Storm clouds came in quickly we got pebble sized hail for about 20 minutes. 4.2mi — 4h 32m
Jul 29, 2018
S M
Jul 28, 2018
Kate V
Jul 27, 2018
Lee Sosebee
Jul 16, 2018
David Morton
4people 4.2mi
Jul 8, 2018
Emily H
Jun 23, 2018
Jonathan Bihl
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