Colorado’s notable Rainbow Trail is 100+ miles long, dates back to 1912 and is older than the Appalachian, Continental Divide and Pacific Crest Trails.
A good part of the trail begins in Custer County then weaves its way into Chaffee, Fremont and Saguache County where it connects with the Continental Divide and Colorado Trails.
Hiking, fishing, camping, backpacking, forest bathing, snowshoeing and just slowing down.
The Rainbow Trail rambles through forests and green meadows at an average elevation of 9,000 feet and offers miles of beautiful hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking adventures.
Dating from 1912 and currently 113-miles long, the Rainbow Trail is one of oldest long-distance thru-hikes in the country. It was originally part of a system of Sangre de Cristo Mountain roads and trails developed by the newly formed U.S. Forest Service to provide access to cattle and sheep grazing allotments.
By 1930 it was completed to the Bear Creek Trailhead near Salida. During the 80s it was extended beyond the Sangres into the Sawatch Mountain Range and now connects with the Colorado and Continental Divide Trails. It currently spans five Colorado counties and three Ranger Districts.
It has become a sought after day and thru-hiker outdoor recreation destination, and combined with the Colorado Trail it forms a majestic 325-mile Southern Colorado, East-West thru-hike from the Town of Westcliffe to City of Durango.
