Lady Moon Trail

If you want a Red Feather walk that lets you breathe easy and look around, Lady Moon is it. The trail threads open, dry ponderosa forest — sun on the needles, granite outcrops and low promontories rising here and there — then drops into the wide sweep of Lady Moon Meadow, where in late spring and early summer wax currant, shrubby cinquefoil, woods rose, and a scatter of wildflowers come on. It runs point-to-point for 2.6 miles between the Lady Moon Trailhead on CR-74E and the Elkhorn Creek Trailhead down on Boy Scout Road, with barely any climb; a new ADA-friendly path is being built around the meadow, so this is about as welcoming as backcountry gets here.

Easy doesn't mean careless, though. Early in the season the little stream through Lady Moon Meadow (around mile 0.4) can leave you muddy or wading, this is open cattle range so expect cows and closed gates, and the one spot people miss is the Granite Ridge Trail junction near mile 0.9 — you jog about 400 feet east, then slip through a gate heading south, so watch for the small sign. Near mile 2.0 a 0.6-mile spur drops southwest to Disappointment Falls (worth it in spring runoff, thin by midsummer) past the old Monroe family log barn. Carry your water — there's none at the Lady Moon end — and remember Lady Moon Lake to the east is private and off-limits.

Trail Facts

Getting There

From Ted's Place, follow US-287 north 10.5 miles to The Forks at Livermore and turn left onto Red Feather Lakes Road (CR-74E). The Lady Moon Trailhead is at mile marker 20.8 on the south (left) side of the road — the Mt. Margaret lot sits across CR-74E to the north. To start from the south end instead, take CR-74E to mile marker 16.25, turn south onto CR-68C (Boy Scout Road), and drive 3.8 miles west past the Boy Scout Ranch to the Elkhorn Creek Trailhead on the north (right) side. Both trailheads have toilets and good stock-trailer parking with pull-throughs. No water at the Lady Moon Trailhead.

Know Before You Go

• Easy to walk, easy to miss. At the Granite Ridge Trail junction (mile 0.9) you jog about 400 feet east, then pass through a gate heading south — watch closely for the small trail sign.
• Wet feet in spring. The intermittent stream and low ground in Lady Moon Meadow (about mile 0.4) can be muddy or a wet crossing early in the season or after a hard rain.
• Cattle country. This is open grazing range — cattle are often present, so keep dogs close and leave gates the way you found them.
• Bikes are seasonal. Bicycles are allowed only July 1–October 31 and prohibited November 1–June 30; e-bikes are never allowed.
• Dogs under voice control. No leash required, but your dog must respond to voice at all times around cattle and wildlife.
• Carry your water. There's none at the Lady Moon Trailhead; the reliable source is Elkhorn Creek at the south end — treat it before drinking.
• Lady Moon Lake is private. The lake east of the trail is on private property and closed to the public — it is not part of this hike.