Rainbow Trail Trailhead

Sangre de Cristo

Road Difficulty

4 Moderate 4WD, good clearance

Driving Directions

Take Colorado 69 south from Westcliffe. Drive 4.5 miles and turn right on Colfax Lane. Drive 5.5 miles to the end of Colfax. Turn right and drive 1 mile to a junction. This is usually the location of the winter closure. Continue straight up the 120 Road for 0.3 mile to the Lower 2WD trailhead. In summer, good-clearance 4WD vehicles can continue an additional 2.5 miles to the Rainbow Trail Junction (signed). This is the "trailhead."

Notes

4WD, good-clearance required

Trailhead Status Updates

Most Recent Update 6/19/2026:

I drove my 4 runner to the upper trailhead. I am not a fan of driving difficult rocky roads but the road was in good condition all the way- some steep rocky climbs but nothing a 4 wheel drive vehicle with high clearance can't handle.

View All Status Updates Post an Update

Winter Access

The South Colony Lakes road is closed 2.5+ miles below the Rainbow trail junction.

Trailhead Facilities & Fees

Parking: Room for maybe 5 vehicles.
Camping: Dispersed camping along the road but not much.
Restrooms: No
Fees: No

More Photos

South Colony Lakes road and Rainbow Trail junction

2010-05-10

By: BillMiddlebrook

Upload a photo

Trailhead added by BillMiddlebrook

Rainbow Trail Trailhead

Sangre de Cristo

14ers.com

Social

Mobile App