San Isabel National Forest
Rainbow Trail #1336

The Rainbow Trail skirts the northern and eastern edge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for 60-some miles between US 285 south of Poncha Springs and Loco Park in southwestern Custer County. There are lots of different access points to reach the Rainbow Trail. Most of the trail is rated as moderately difficult and it sees most traffic in the summer and fall. Since the Rainbow Trail never actually enters the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, most parts of the trail are accessible for motorcycles, mountain bikes and ATV's.

Elevations:

• Trail beginning: 8,540'
• High Point: 8,880'
• Trail ending: 8,880'

Access: The usual northern terminus of the Rainbow Trail is on US 285, about 5 miles south of Poncha Springs at a small parking area on the east side of the highway. The usual southern terminus is at the end of County Road 119 (Colfax Lane), south of Westcliffe off of State Road 69.

There is also a 12-mile section of the trail west of the US 285 crossing that goes well up onto the slopes of Porphyry Peak in the Silver Creek area (and ends at about 11,220'). Just over the ridge to the south is the Rio Grande National Forest and the Kerber Mining District (Bonanza). To the west, the foot and horseback only Silver Creek Trail rises to the Continental Divide.

Notes: This is a long trail winding through pine and aspen forest and great countryside for its' entire length. Nearly every trail heading west into the Sangre de Cristo's is accessed via or crosses the Rainbow Trail at some point. Many creeks along the way, great camping and fishing, great views... this is a trail that's got everything a mountain man (or woman) could ask for.

USGS Maps: Mount Ouray, Poncha Pass, Wellsville, Howard, Coaldale, Cotopaxi, Electric Peak, Beckwith Mountain, Horn Peak, Crestone Peak, Beck Mountain