Hiking & Running

County Commons/Miner’s Creek Trailhead

From Main Street Frisco, turn right at the traffic light onto CO-9/ Summit Boulevard southbound, then turn right at the roundabout (County Road 1004) towards the Summit County Commons government complex. Follow this road for approximately 100 yards and turn right, then turn immediately left onto the paved Recreation Pathway. Be sure to yield to other users. Continue for another 0.3 miles to the parking area at a gate. This parking area will access Peaks Trail, Rainbow Lake trail, Masontown (from Rainbow Lake), and Miner’s Creek Road. Just hike up Miner’s Creek Road, following the paved path at first and crossing the Recreation Path onto the dirt Miner’s Creek Road. Eventually, you will see a right hand turn onto the Rainbow Lakes Trail. During the summer, you can continue further up the rough, 4 x 4 road in your vehicle and get very close to the Peaks Trail sign. Parking will be an issue so driving further up Miner’s Creek Road for trail access is not recommended.

Zach’s Stop

This is a very popular trailhead and often fills very early – parking is not available in the surrounding neighborhoods.  Please consider parking at the free lot at 3rd Avenue and Granite Street and walking the path to Zach’s Stop – or walking from lodging, Summit Stage stops, or Main Street. 

Head west on Main Street Frisco, turn south onto Second Avenue and follow this road about 5 blocks. Take a right on South Cabin Green. Cross over the paved recreation pathway after stopping at the stop sign (to yield to pathway users) you will see the trailhead parking area. In the parking area you will see a sign with an arrow that says Rainbow Lake. Venture through a wetland on a boardwalk, through aspen trees and lodgepole pines until you arrive at a beaver pond called Rainbow Lake. This trail also connects to Miners Creek Road, the Peaks trail to Breckenridge and the Masontown/Mount Royal trail.

County Commons/Miner’s Creek Trailhead

From Main Street Frisco, turn right at the traffic light onto CO-9/ Summit Boulevard southbound, then turn right at the roundabout (County Road 1004) towards the Summit County Commons government complex. Follow this road for approximately 100 yards and turn right, then turn immediately left onto the paved Recreation Pathway. Be sure to yield to other users. Continue for another 0.3 miles to the parking area at a gate. This parking area will access Peaks Trail, Rainbow Lake, Masontown (from Rainbow Lake), and Miner’s Creek Road. Just hike up Miner’s Creek Road, following the paved path at first and crossing the Recreation Path onto the dirt Miner’s Creek Road. Eventually, you will see a left hand turn onto the Peaks Trail. During the summer, you can continue further up the rough, 4 x4 road in your vehicle and get very close to the Peaks Trail sign. Parking will be an issue so driving further up Miner’s Creek Road for trail access is not recommended.

Zach’s Stop

This is a very popular trailhead and often fills very early – parking is not available in the surrounding neighborhoods.  Please consider parking at the free lot at 3rd Avenue and Granite Street and walking the path to Zach’s Stop, or walking from lodging, Summit Stage stops, or Main Street rather than driving your vehicle to the trailhead.

Head west on Main Street Frisco, turn south onto Second Avenue and follow this road about 5 blocks then take a right on South Cabin Green. Cross over the paved recreation pathway after stopping at the stop sign (use caution and yield to pathway users) to get to the trailhead parking area. In the parking area you will see a sign with an arrow that says Rainbow Lake. Venture through a wetland on a boardwalk, through aspen trees and lodgepole pines until you arrive at a beaver pond called Rainbow Lake. This trail will then connects to the Peaks Trail. This is also the trailhead for Masontown/Mount Royal trail.

From CO-9/Summit Boulevard, head towards I-70, exit 203. Take the roundabout, but do not enter I-70, instead, take the dirt road that parallels I-70 Westbound. You will see a sign for the Meadow Creek Trailhead. Parking is available down the dirt road near the trailhead sign. This trail switchbacks through Aspen tree stands. At .6 miles into the hike, you will see the trail split to Meadow Creek or to Lily Pad Lake. Take the path to Lily Pad Lake and go another .7 miles to the lake. For an easier way to access Lily Pad Lake, check out COTrex  for Wildernest neighborhood access in Silverthorne.

The National Forest trailhead  and public parking area for North Tenmile Canyon is directly off of exit 201 (the Frisco Main Street exit off of I-70).  You could also easily walk to this trailhead down Main Street from Downtown Frisco (towards I-70, away from Lake Dillon). This trail is a locals’ favorite because of its accessibility and closeness to Ten Mile Creek. If coming off of I-70 at exit 201, the parking area is just to the right of the exit (North side of I-70).  Don’t let the initial steep grade discourage you from continuing on this trail. After the first mile, the trail levels out. At the beginning of the trail you will see Chief Mountain, elevation 11,363 feet, to the right. On the left flank is Wichita Mountain, elevation 10,855 feet. Along this trail there are multiple opportunities to view beaver ponds along the creek. After 2 miles on the trail, there will be a boundary fence with a sign saying you are entering the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. Please keep in mind that designated Wilderness Areas of the National Forest require that pets be on leash at all times, and that all recreation in these areas is non-motorized. After hiking an additional 1.4 miles you will come to the intersection of the Gore Range Trail. Turning to the right (North) will eventually take you into the Meadow Creek drainage and turning left (South) will eventually take you up and over Uneva Pass to I-70 at exit #195 for CO-91 / Copper Mountain Resort.

You can walk or drive easily from Frisco’s Main Street to the Mount Royal trailhead. Follow directions above to the trailhead for Rainbow Lake. Do not begin hiking towards Rainbow Lake, however, as you need to go in a different direction for the most direct route to the summit of Mount Royal. Walk west on the paved Recreation Pathway that you crossed over in order to park your car towards Copper Mountain/I-70. Walk to the Mount Royal interpretive sign and trailhead on the right-hand side of the pathway. Start the hike here. Parking lot too full? Try parking at the Kayak Park parking lot on the South side of West Main Street and walk the same Recreation Pathway back to the Mount Royal trailhead sign from the other direction. This hike is steep, but offers spectacular views of Lake Dillon and the Town of Frisco. This trail has no reliable access to natural water sources, and involves loose rock. Hiking poles would come in handy on this hike.

County Commons/Miner’s Creek Trailhead

Trailhead parking is located at 0558 County Road 1000 in Frisco. From Main Street Frisco, turn right at the traffic light onto CO-9/ Summit Boulevard southbound, then turn right at the roundabout (County Road 1004) towards the Summit County Commons government complex. Follow this road for approximately 100 yards and turn right, then turn immediately left onto the paved Recreation Pathway. Be sure to yield to other users. Continue for another 0.3 miles to the parking area at a gate. This parking area will access Peaks Trail, Rainbow Lake trail, Masontown (from Rainbow Lake). To hike up Miner’s Creek Road, follow the paved path at first and cross the Recreation Path onto the dirt.  During the summer, you can continue further up the rough 4×4 road in your vehicle  and get very close to the Peaks Trail sign, or continue up Miner’s Creek even further. Parking will be an issue so driving up Miner’s Creek Road for trail access is not recommended.