Rainbow Lake

Rainbow Lake: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: usually quiet; mostly local visitors. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Rainbow Lake

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Crowd: Usually quiet; mostly local visitors.

Typical week: Mon quiet · Tue quiet · Wed quiet · Thu quiet · Fri light · Sat light · Sun light.

How to reach Rainbow Lake — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 38.81138, -106.26870. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Rainbow Lake

• Mount Yale · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~7 km · Must-see
• Mount Princeton · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~9 km · Must-see
• Turner Peak · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~12 km · Must-see
• Mount Columbia · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~13 km · Must-see
• Chalk Lake · lake · Chaffee · ~14 km · Must-see
• Jones Mountain · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~15 km · Must-see
• Mount Harvard · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~17 km · Must-see
• Mount Antero · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~19 km · Must-see
• Emma Burr Mountain · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~19 km · Must-see
• Emerald Peak · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~20 km · Must-see
• Mount White · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~22 km · Must-see
• Cronin Peak · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~22 km · Must-see
• Missouri Mountain · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~22 km · Must-see
• Mount Oxford · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~23 km · Must-see
• Mount Belford · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~23 km · Must-see
• Ice Mountain · viewpoint · Gunnison · ~23 km · Must-see
• Carbonate Mountain · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~26 km · Must-see
• Tabeguache Peak · viewpoint · Chaffee · ~26 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Rainbow Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Rainbow Lake

• Chalk Lake · lake · Chaffee · ~14 km · Must-see
• Twin Lakes Dam · lake · Lake · ~37 km · Must-see
• Antero Reservoir · lake · Park · ~45 km · Must-see
• Grizzly Reservoir Dam · lake · Pitkin · ~53 km · Must-see
• O'Haver Lake · lake · Chaffee · ~55 km · Must-see
• Linkins Lake · lake · Pitkin · ~56 km · Must-see
• Independence Lake · lake · Pitkin · ~56 km · Must-see
• Lost Man Lake · lake · Pitkin · ~58 km · Must-see
• Montgomery Dam · lake · Park · ~78 km · Must-see
• Homestake Project Dam · lake · Eagle · ~80 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Colorado

Frequently asked