Rainbow Road

4.1/5 (42 reviews)
Idaho Springs, Colorado (Clear Creek County)
Last Updated: 11/26/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

Rainbow Road is a great mountain getaway with fishing, hiking, and camping. Located a short distance west of Idaho Springs on the way to St. Mary's Glacier, Rainbow Road takes you to the popular Fall River Reservoir and connects you to the Chinns Lake Trail. Along the route, you will come to a Continental Divide National Scenic Trail access point which provides long-distance hiking access north to James Peak Wilderness and southeast to Bill Moore Lake and Breckinridge Peak.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.1/5 (42)
Official Crew
40050
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 11/26/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Calvary 4-Wheelers ran Rainbow Road as part of our annual "Turkey Wheeling" trip the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We had three rigs along me in my stock TJ, Rich in his stock Ford Ranger, and Jon and Delila in Jon's stock Dodge Dakota. The first mile or two of the trail were hard-packed snow with a few icy places. Higher up, the trail was less packed but well tracked making it a little slick but manageable. Near the end there were two spots that had partially re-drifted making them mildly challenging for our stock rigs but we all made it to the parking area unassisted. The weather was clear and sunny but chilly and windy so we did not hike the last couple hundred yards to the lake but it was very pretty and scenic.
3600
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 09/03/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

We ran Rainbow Road in a stock Subaru Forester Wilderness (with full skid plates) Mostly rock. The upper portion is similar to other trails rated a 3. Walked up to check out the lake. It's a little low this time of year. On the way back down checked out a few camping spots by the stream.
1100
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 08/14/2022

We had a nice day of sightseeing combining Chinn's Lake, Fall River Reservoir and Loch Lomond. You can easily hit all three of these trails and enjoy some off roading, scenery and hiking. Rainbow Road is very bumpy and has a couple deep puddles, but other than that is pretty easy. (Look for Loch Lomond Road on your map for a nice bypass from Rainbow Road up to the Loch Lomond trailhead.)
200
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 07/10/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Clear to the top, as is tradition this trail seems to get rougher every year. More rock than dirt and some sections which are getting pretty washed out along with a few water crossings that would be decently high for a stock vehicle. May want to bump this one to a 3. Did see a BMW 3 series coming down through some of the first rock sections. Never a dull moment out here in the summer!
1900
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 06/08/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

I broke through the last 2 snow drifts right at the end of the road on 37s. A side by side was able to follow in my tracks, a stock 4runner was denied. Another week and the drifts should be pretty much gone.

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