Diamond Lake

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Moderate distance, rolling trail run hovering around 10,000 feet with spectacular view, lots of water features, an abundance of wildflowers, and wildlife.

Fourth of July Rd is 2WD but rough - high clearance suggested. Parking is limited and very busy on weekends.

Start a the Fourth of July Trailhead and ascend the Arapaho Pass Trail west through a handful of mild to moderate cascades until you reach the Diamond Lake Trail cutoff at approximately the 1 mile mark.

The Diamond Lake Trail then heads south and descends to the North Fork Middle Boulder Creek at around 1.7 miles. There is a larger cascade slightly upstream that is worth a look.

From the creek, continue back uphill to the southeast through dense forest trail. Expect wet trails and potential snowpack well into summer. Route finding may be an issue with significant snow.

After the climb out of the creek valley, you'll reach a flat, wet meadow just northeast of the Diamond Lake. Continue to the lake, at which point, you may explore the perimeter of the lake. Be mindful of the campground directly west of the lake.

Moose, deer, bear, trout, wildflowers.