Hiking in the Indian Peaks Wilderness
The Indian Peaks sit just south of Rocky Mountain National Park along the Continental Divide, with the same glacier-scoured lakes and passes, no timed entry on most trailheads, and a fraction of the crowd.
4 trail guides in the Indian Peaks Wilderness
Indian Peaks Wilderness Loop
Classic Indian Peaks hike from Brainard Lake Recreation Area to Lake Isabelle, a stunning alpine lake set beneath the Continental Divide. Wildflowers explode in July, the lake water levels drop dramatically by late August, and aspens turn in late September.
Columbine Lake Trail
A challenging wilderness hike to a remote alpine lake beneath dramatic peaks with pristine wilderness settings and stunning mountain views.
Lost Lake Trail
From the Hessie Trailhead, climb through aspen and pine to Lost Lake, a small alpine lake. No pass or permit is needed, but Hessie parking is tiny and fills before dawn in summer; Boulder County runs a free shuttle from Nederland on summer Fridays, weekends, and holidays, no reservation needed.
Arapaho Pass Trail
Steep climb from the Fourth of July Trailhead to Arapaho Pass on the Continental Divide. Wildflowers in July, lingering snow into August, and big views down to Lake Granby on the west side. Connects to Caribou Lake and Diamond Lake for longer days.
Hiking the Indian Peaks Wilderness: what to know
The wilderness straddles the Divide west of Boulder and Nederland. The east side is reached from three places. Brainard Lake Recreation Area, above Ward, serves the Long Lake and Mitchell Lake trailheads and requires a timed-entry reservation from late June through mid-October, bought on Recreation.gov, $16 per vehicle plus a $2 fee, or $10 to park at the Gateway lot and walk in; in summer 2026 a pilot shuttle runs from the Gateway trailhead to Brainard Lake on Fridays through Sundays for $5 round trip. The Hessie trailhead outside Eldora, which serves Lost Lake and the Devils Thumb and King Lake trails, has a small lot that fills by dawn on weekends; Boulder County runs a free shuttle from Nederland High School on summer Fridays, weekends, and holidays. The Fourth of July trailhead, the start for Arapaho Pass and the Arapaho Glacier overlook, is up a rough road from Eldora that most passenger cars can manage slowly.
The west side, near Grand Lake, is quieter. Columbine Lake starts from the Junco Lake trailhead inside the Arapaho National Recreation Area, which charges a day-use fee, and the Monarch Lake trailhead serves the long approaches to Buchanan and Pawnee passes.
Lost Lake is the beginner pick at about 4 miles round trip. Arapaho Pass, Columbine Lake, and the Pawnee Pass loop are moderate to hard days that top out between 11,000 and 12,500 feet, and the passes hold snow into July. Afternoon storms are the daily pattern from June through August, so be off the Divide by noon.
Overnight trips need a wilderness permit from June 1 through September 15, and campfires are banned in most zones. Dogs are allowed on leash. Fall color in the aspen around Hessie and Eldora peaks in the last two weeks of September.