High Lonesome Trail - CDT Access
Begin at the Monarch Lake Trailhead. The first section of the High Lonesome Trail goes up to Strawberry Bench, through quite a bit of dead lodgepole pine, before levelling out. Some sections of this trail coincident with old roads and some active OHV use area, before approaching the Junco Lake Trailhead. Continue left, uphill, on a steep and rocky trail. The trail follows the Continental Divide through the Indian Peaks Wilderness for 6 miles. The trail terminates at the Rollins Pass Trailhead on the Corona Pass Road 149. Unlike other trails, the High Lonesome trail does not follow a major creek, so water should be carried enroute.
The trail from Monarch Lake Trailhead to Rollins Pass one-way is 17.8 miles.
Specific Trail Information
Trail Number
General Information
View a trail map here.
Parking in the Arapaho National Recreation Area at Monarch Lake requires a daily use fee. America the Beautiful Interagency Passes accepted.
Permits are required for overnight stays in the Indian Peaks Wilderness from June 1 to September 15. Additional permit requirements exist for large and organized groups.
Mechanized/motorized travel is prohibited.
Do not camp or build campfires within 100 feet of developed trails or bodies of water.
Group size is limited to 12 people and/or livestock.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Getting There
Trailhead/Starting Points
Monarch Lake Trailhead or Junco Lake Trailhead or Devils Thumb Park Trailhead
Parking
Trailers are not recommended.
Directions
- Via the Monarch Lake Trailhead: Take Highway 34 to County Road 6, 5.4 miles north of Granby and 8.9 miles south of Grand Lake. County Road 6 (NFSR 125) is a 9.4 miles improved road along Granby Reservoir to Monarch Lake.
- Via the Junco Lake Trailhead: There is mid-access by taking Highway 40 to County Road 83, just outside of Tabernash. County Road 83 soon forks. Take a left at the fork, continue about 9 miles to Meadow Creek Reservoir from Highway 40. Continue around the east side of the reservoir for 3 miles to the High Lonesome Trailhead.
- Via the Devils Thumb Park Trailhead: Take Highway 40 to the north side of Fraser, to County Road 8. Follow this paved route, until it turns to dirt and forks with County Road 81. Continue straight on this primitive dirt road through the Forest. It eventually becomes Forest Road 128, also known as the Waterboard Road. It is only 1 mile from the Forest Boundary to NFSR 128.2C, which is the access to the Devils Thumb Park Trailhead.
Recreation Groups
These recreation sites and trail segments are located along the Continental Divide Trail.