Camp In Colorado: Rainbow Lakes Campground

The Rainbow Lakes Campground is located at the end of Forest Road 298 at an elevation of 10,000 feet. The campground is mostly wooded with beaver ponds and willow thickets near by. There are 16 sites in the campground. Seven are suitable for RV camping and seven are more suitable for tents. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring or grate. The maximum vehicle length that can be accommodated is 20 feet.
The roads through the campground are dirt/gravel. There is no water available in the campground. Three restrooms, none of which will accommodate disabled persons, are located in the campground. Reservations are not accepted for this campground. There is a length of stay limit of 14 days. The season for this campground normally runs from mid-June through mid-October, depending on the weather. Check with the Forest Service for the current fees.

Features:

16 sites Maximum spur length of 20 feet

Drinking water Next to stream or lake

Three restrooms No disabled facilities

No reservations Elevation: 10,000 feet

Boulder Ranger District: 303-541-2500

Activities:
FISHING: Fishing is available for trout in Rainbow Lakes. The lakes are a half mile hike from the campground in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

HIKING: Hiking is available on the Rainbow Lakes and Arapaho Glacier (Glacier Rim) trails. Overnight trips into the Indian Peaks Wilderness require a camping permit.

BICYCLING: The Sourdough Trail is popular for mountain biking and can be accessed near the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station near the Highway 72 turnoff.

Directions:
Take Highway 72 north from Nederland approximately 6.5 miles then turn west on Forest Road 298 at the sign for the CU Mountain Research Station. Travel about six miles to the campground. From Estes Park take Highway 7 for approximately 18 miles to Highway 72. Continue south on 72 for about nine miles to Ward. The turnoff to the campground is approximately 2.5 miles south of Ward.

Order Colorado's Front Range Camping

16 sites	Maximum spur length of 20 feet
Drinking water	Next to stream or lake
Three restrooms	No disabled facilities
No reservations	Elevation: 10,000 feet