Dome Rock Colorado Hike

May 21, 2024 The Virtual Sherpa Comments 0 Comment

Dome Rock is a 10.5 mile loop located outside of Divide, Colorado. This trail is a nice loop for trail running, a longer hike or for someone looking to do some fishing in addition to hiking. The Dome Rock trail does have seasonal closures due to calving for bighorn sheep. This hike will usually not see a ton of foot traffic, making it a somewhat secluded experience on the trail.

Dome Rock Hike Guide

Dome Rock Rating: ★★★ (3/5 Stars)

Distance: 10.5 Miles RT

Elevation Start: 8,225ft

High Point: 9,704 ft

Total Elevation Gain: 1,900 ft

Estimated Time to Complete: 3-5 Hours RT

Difficulty: Moderate What does this mean?

Class: Class 1 – What does this mean?

Season: July 16 – November (Trail is Open July 16 – December 1st but expect snow outside of the aforementioned season).

Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to Dome Rock

Trailhead: Willow Creek / Dome Rock Parking

Getting Here: From Divide, Colorado take CO-67 South for 5.4 miles and turn right onto 4 mile road. Take 4 mile road for 2 miles and then take another right onto a short dirt road where you will find the parking area straight after about 100 yards. You can park at either area depending on which way you want to hike the loop.

Parking: As mentioned in directions, there are two main parking areas for the Dome Rock trail: the “lower” parking area and then the main area. Both will suffice for your hike/run/adventure it just depends on if you want to hike a little bit extra at the start or end. The lower parking area does have a non-plumbing bathroom whereas the upper one does not. Both lots can fit ample cars and I don’t anticipate these areas ever running out of parking.

Fee: None

Summary

Dogs: Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on this trail or any in Mueller State Park.

Camping: Camping is prohibited along the Dome Rock trail. However, if you are looking for nearby camping you can read all about camping in Mueller State Park here.

Hike Xfactor(s): Hands down the biggest factor in this hike is the amount of time it’s not actually open on a yearly basis. BE SURE to plan your visit between July 16 and December 1st or you will probably have a very bad time with lots of disappointment. In addition to the trail being open, there is a small stream crossing right after you see Dome Rock that could be a problem if you are not into getting your feet wet (literally).

Hike Tip(s): I would recommend having a GPS device / route downloaded for this trail. Although the trail is relatively easy to follow, there are a lot of social trails and junctions that could easily get someone without a map lost. Check out mine below!

Best Views: Dome Rock surprised me with its views. It sort of started boring but by the time you reached the large granite rock formations it gave off strong Yosemite Vibes but in Colorado. There are certainly more scenic hikes in the area, but for a 10 mile loop, you can’t go wrong with this spot.

Make it a Loop: Dome Rock is a loop but if you are hankering for more trails be sure to check out Raspberry Mountain, Crags Trail or even 14er Pikes Peak.