Loading trail…
Free — you'll pick up right here.
Watch this trail
Sign up to watch it — saving subscribes you to gate, closure and report changes.
Colorado
3.7 mi
Distance
1,630 ft
Gain
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Pike and San Isabel National Forests
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Zapata
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
Zapata is a 3.7-mile out-and-back trail located in Colorado near the town of Colorado. Managed by the Gunnison Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, this hike features 1,630 feet of elevation gain, making it a moderately challenging ascent. The trail is ideal for hikers seeking a shorter day hike with significant vertical relief in the San Juan Mountains region. The out-and-back format allows hikers to turn back at any point, making it flexible for different fitness levels and time constraints. The elevation gain is distributed across the relatively short distance, creating a steady climb throughout the hike. This trail offers access to the San Juan National Forest's backcountry, providing opportunities to experience the natural landscape managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Hikers should be prepared for the elevation gain and check current conditions with the Gunnison Ranger District before heading out.
Lily Lake
~2 min drive
6.6 mi · Easy
Ute
~2 min drive
6.8 mi · Hard
Raspberry
~6 min drive
7.1 mi · Moderate
Mosca Pass
~11 min drive
<p>Just above the dunefield are forests of aspen, pine, fir, and spruce. The easiest hiking access to forest in the national park is in Mosca Pass, on the Montville Nature Trail and Mosca Pass Trail. On these trails, you are walking in the footsteps of Pleistocene mammoth hunt…
High Dune on First Ridge
~14 min drive
The high dune on the first ridge is neither the highest in elevation nor the tallest in the dunefield, but it looks that way from the main parking lot. This is the most common destination in the dunefield, providing a great view of the entire dunefield. It is about 692 feet (2…
Star Dune
~15 min drive
Star Dune is currently tied with Hidden Dune as the two tallest dunes in North America. It is a majestic dune now measuring 741 feet (225 m) from base to summit. While it can be hiked from the summit of High Dune on First Ridge, it's more direct, and less up and down, to acces…
Hidden Dune
~17 min drive
Hidden Dune is currently tied with Star Dune as the two tallest dunes in North America at 741 feet/225 m. Hidden Dune is named for its remote location in the dunefield, where it is not visible from most of the main visitor day use areas. It is even hidden from much of the high…
Sand Creek Basin
~36 min drive
<p>Sand Creek Basin is part of the alpine watershed of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. A longer drive and hike is required to reach these lakes and peaks, but the mountain scenery is worth the effort. Check with a ranger for conditions before travel. Snow may block these t…
Dikes
~49 min drive
6.6 mi · Hard
Comanche
~50 min drive
8.8 mi · Expert
