Lake Dorothy via Arapaho Pass: A Scenic Indian Peaks Wilderness Hike

Image by: Ross Taylor

Indian Peaks Wilderness borders the southern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. Having done other hikes in different parts of the Wilderness, this was my first hike from the Fourth of July Trailhead.

From this trailhead, you can hike to Diamond Lake, the Fourth of July Mine, or Arapaho Glacier.

Our goal was Lake Dorothy, which, at 12,061 feet, is the highest lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The trail follows the Fourth of July Mine Trail, then continues to Arapaho Pass, and finally on to Lake Dorothy, which sits in a cirque beneath Mt. Neva.

The Fourth of July Trail begins with switchbacks as you traverse up the southern side of Old Baldy, reaching treeline just before the Fourth of July Mine. Along the way, we saw several blooming alpine flowers, including Indian paintbrush, purple fringe, alpine primrose, and others. Snow runoff created several small waterfalls—and one large one we had to cross. The trees along the trail were lush and green, but as we gained elevation, they grew smaller until only a final grove remained before the rusted remnants of abandoned mining equipment appeared.

The Fourth of July Mine was once a working silver mine, established on July 4, 1872. Seeing the equipment caused me to reflect on how difficult life must have been at this elevation (11,240 feet). As I approached the machinery, I noticed rusted nails and small metal fragments scattered across the ground. Considering the size of the equipment, I wondered if horses had hauled it up the mountain—and how long that might have taken. The lure of silver and riches must have outweighed the hardships the miners endured.

From the Fourth of July Mine, the trail to Arapaho Pass is gentle and follows the side of South Arapaho Peak. Arapaho Pass (11,906 feet) is the high point between South Arapaho Peak and Mt. Neva. The view from the pass is incredible—I could see north into Rocky Mountain National Park, including the broad summit of Longs Peak, and west toward Caribou Lake.

Lake Dorothy is just a short hike from Arapaho Pass. Since it was June 24, it was surprising to see the lake still partially frozen. Sitting in the cirque and looking up at the Class 4 ridge (YDS) ascending Mt. Neva inspired me to return and attempt the summit in the future. On the return, we were caught in a light rain shower that felt refreshing. So far, this stands as my favorite hike in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

Additional editing by Gordon Eaton III