State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length, One-Way: 4.6 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Moderate
Colorado River
Trail Information
Cross the bridge on the south side of the train tunnel and follow the South Boulder Creek Trail. The South Boulder Creek Trail leads west on an uphill grade, following South Boulder Creek to its source: Heart and Roger’s Pass Lakes. The first mile from the East Portal Trailhead to the turn off for Forest Lakes Trail #809 follows an old road and is quite mellow.
The Forest Lakes Trail, which leads to the Forest and Arapaho Lakes, forks to the north in the second open meadow where you’ll see the remains of two abandoned structures. Continuing southwest on the South Boulder Creek Trail, the grade grows steeper and the old road rockier.
The obscure Crater Lakes Trail #819, forks to the north after about another 3/4 mile if you cross a third wooden footbridge before turning off for Crater Lakes, you’ve missed the turn by about a 1/4 mile. Continue straight ahead another 3/4 mile, often through swampy areas, to a stream crossing. There is a rather obvious campsite just across the creek.
The South Boulder Creek Trail forks west (right) to Heart Lake, but it is obscured by massive deadfall and thus has been little used in recent years. An alternate social trail continues southwest (straight ahead) to another creek crossing and then to Rogers Pass Lake. The trail to Rogers Pass Lake is a little bit less steep than the Heart Lake trail, but the Heart Lake trail (if it can be found) is a little bit more direct. Just beyond where the two trails re-connect near Heart Lake, the South Boulder Creek Trail climbs steeply up several switchbacks to Rogers Pass. The trail crosses the Continental Divide Trail and continues down the west side to the Rollins Pass Road in the Sulphur Ranger District as the Rogers Pass Trail.
After snow begins to fall, it is common to see snowshoers and backcountry skiers along the South Boulder Creek Trail.
Directions
From Nederland:
Traveling south on CO 119, go west out of Rollinsville on gravel County Road 16 (a.k.a. Moffat Road or Rollins Pass Road). Drive 7 miles to the end of County Road 16 (Road 16 ends at a T-junction). Go left 1 mile to park at the East Portal Trailhead or, if you have a high-clearance vehicle, go right and drive an additional 11 miles on a native surface road, to park at the Forest Lakes Trailhead.
