What activities are available at Lake Dorothy?

Lake Dorothy offers Hiking, Camping, Bird Watching, Snowshoeing.

What amenities does Lake Dorothy have?

Lake Dorothy has Parking, Unpaved Trail.

Where is Lake Dorothy located?

Lake Dorothy is located in Boulder County, Colorado.

Is a permit required at Lake Dorothy?

Permit information is not currently available. Check with the managing agency for current requirements.

Lake Dorothy

lake

Boulder County, Colorado

4.9(12 reviews)

About Lake Dorothy

Lake Dorothy sits at 12,061 feet in Boulder County, making it the highest lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness and one of the most rewarding alpine destinations along the Front Range. Reached via the Arapaho Pass Trail from the Fourth of July Trailhead near Nederland, this pristine cirque lake rests at the base of Mount Neva, where snowfields linger well into summer and the water glows a striking blue-green against a backdrop of raw granite.

The hike to Lake Dorothy covers roughly 5 miles one way with about 2,000 feet of elevation gain, placing it in the moderate-to-strenuous category depending on your fitness and acclimatization. From the trailhead you climb steadily through subalpine forest and open meadows carpeted with wildflowers in July and August, passing several waterfalls along the way. The final push above treeline delivers sweeping views of the Continental Divide before dropping you at the lake's eastern shore. Experienced hikers who continue past the lake can peer over the Divide toward the Grand Lake area to the west.

Because Lake Dorothy sits above 12,000 feet, conditions are alpine year-round. Snow can persist on the trail into late June, winds pick up quickly near the ridgeline, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Bring layers, rain gear, and plenty of water. Visitors not acclimatized to high altitude should allow extra time and watch for symptoms of altitude sickness.

The access road to the Fourth of July Trailhead is a rough, four-mile dirt stretch with rocks and ruts. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended, though some drivers manage with standard cars by taking it slow. Trailhead parking is limited, so arriving before 7 a.m. on weekends is wise. Overflow parking lines the road below.

Wildlife sightings along the trail include marmots, pikas, and the occasional mountain goat. The lake itself sits in a designated wilderness area, so all regulations apply: no motorized equipment, no drones, and strict Leave No Trace practices. Backcountry camping is permitted but tents must be set at least 100 feet from the water. Flat tent sites near the lake are scarce, so scout carefully if you plan an overnight trip.

Lake Dorothy rewards the effort with solitude and scenery that rivals any alpine lake in Colorado. For hikers looking to extend their day, nearby Caribou Lake sits just off the Arapaho Ridge Trail, adding roughly two extra miles to the round trip.

Reviews (10)

Neil Soltis

Wonderful trail. Nothing very steep just a long climb. Waterfalls, wildflower, and great views on the way to the lake. The trail was not crowded due to the limited parking. We arrived at 6 and there were a couple of spaces in the lot with more along the road. The road to the trailhead was very bumpy and rutted. Hopefully that will change since signage showed that the road will be closed in early August for maintenance.

Stephen Smith

Don't sleep here like I did unless you are acclimated. Lichen everywhere! No camping w/in 100 ft so make sure you spot what is basically the one location to set up a tent further up within a rock break

Daddu Pal

Beautiful.. it’s approx 5 miles hike from Fourth of July trail head and elevation gains 2000 ft.. it’s on 12000ft elevation pretty great hike.. but from Netherland to trail head drive with 4 miles off road bit rough and take much longer than google maps says ..

Kristin Davidson

Lake Dorothy is the highest lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness at 12,061 feet.

Molun Zhang

Not too hard trail to Dorothy through the Arapaho pass. Can get windy and chilly towards the lake.

Andy K

pretty good lake, nice water, definitely recommended

Carol Bennett

Beautiful place and the trail was full of wildflowers. Was not as high as many other destinations that have as good profusion of wildflowers. Hey there about 7:30 to get a parking spot that isn't too far away. Be prepared to ride on a 4 mile dirt road with lots of rocks and ruts.

Traildust1

07/28/2018 Went up to the lake with some friends. The morning weather was great and only three other people were up there when we got there. Had some gusts of wind, but it wasn’t bad. The lake was dark blue green in color with a snow field coming into it. We hiked over to the backside of the lake and what a surprise. This by far is the jewel of the lake. Like any jewel it’s just waiting to be found.

Ryan Hill

Great hike...leave early and behind Dorothy Lake you can view way out west and see Grand Lake area. Awesome and worth the hike... just keep going!

Rosemary Woller

Fantastic hike. Did it late June, and there was very little snow to hike over. I accidentally hiked down to Caribou Lake (which I suggest doing too) first because I followed the Arapahoe Ridge Trail instead of the Caribou Trail at the fork. Going down to Caribou Lake adds 2 miles to the hike if you are starting at the Fourth of July Trailhead. To get to the trailhead parking lot you have to drive up a dirt road. Some people suggest a four wheel drive vehicle, but I managed to drive my Ford, Taurus there fine.