State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length, One-Way: 1.5 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 10550 feet
Maximum Elevation: 11050 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Heavy
Trail Information
As the Caribou Trail splits away from Meadow Creek, the Columbine Lake Trail continues along the creek to its source at Columbine Lake. This treeline lake is nestled in a steep basin on the northwest face of Mount Neva. Campfires are prohibited at Columbine Lake to protect the delicate nature of the alpine tundra.
When the snow falls, the Columbine Lake Trail becomes the domain of snowshoers.
Directions
Junco Lake Trailhead lies within the Arapaho National Recreation Area, off of Highway 40, 1 mile south of Tabernash and 4 miles north of Fraser. Turn east onto Meadow Creek Road (a.k.a. County Road 84, or FDR 129), follow the road around the north end of Meadow Creek Reservoir to the Junco Lake Trailhead.
