The Carhart Trail circles the lake close to the shore on the east and north sides providing fishing access. On the west and south sides the trail is away from the lake up to 1.3 miles at its furthest point. The Carhart Trail accesses the Stillwater Trail to the east, the Trappers Lake Trail to the south and the Wall Lake Trail to the west. Trappers Lake in Northwest Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness is renown as the birthplace of the wilderness concept. This trail is named for Arthur Carhart whose innovative ideas about wilderness were inspired by his visit to Trappers Lake. Arthur Carhart helped set the stage for the Wilderness Preservation System in the United States today.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Use: Heavy
Length: 5.3 miles
Elevation: Starts at 9,591 feet and ends at 9,591 feet; the trail is a loop (highest point 9,949 feet)
Elevation Gain: + 358 feet – 358 feet = +0 feet
 

Open To: HIKING, HORSEBACK RIDING
Access:
• The Carhart Trail is located 50 miles east of Meeker.

• From Meeker, take State Highway 13 east for 1 mile. 

• Where Highway 13 turns north, turn east on Rio Blanco County Road 8 for 39 miles. 

• Turn south on the Trappers Lake Road (FDR 205) for 10 miles to the Outlet Trailhead.

• The Carhart Trail may be accessed from any of the Trappers Lake parking areas. The trail is approximately 1/4 mile from any of these parking areas.


 Important Information:
 

• THIS TRAIL IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING HIKING AND HORSEBACK RIDING.
PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.
• PLEASE OBEY ALL WILDERNESS REGULATIONS.