Trails · Red Feather Lakes
Molly Moon Trail
A short, easy-rolling dirt trail through the lodgepole and meadow country just north of the Molly Lake ponds.
Toggle Terrain / USGS Topo / Satellite / Street (top-right) · route © COTREX/CPW · tap a marker for waypoints
The Molly Moon Trail is a gentle 1.9-mile stretch of dirt singletrack tucked into the forest just north of Red Feather Lakes village, in the Molly Lake area of the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. It runs roughly west to east through lodgepole pine and grassy openings — the kind of unhurried, close-to-town path that's easy to fit into a morning. COTREX has it open to hikers, horses, and (seasonally) mountain bikes, all on a natural dirt surface managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Because the country out here is a quilt of small trails and ponds, the Molly Moon pairs naturally with the tiny Molly Lake Trail — a one-tenth-mile spur that drops to the water's edge a little west of Molly Moon's lower end, off Molly Lake Road. We've folded that short lake spur into this page as a nearby waypoint rather than giving it its own listing. Distances and uses here come straight from COTREX; for current trail conditions, seasonal bike dates, and access, check with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District before you head out.
Trail Facts
Length
1.9 mi
Elevation
8,230 → 8,540 ft
Elevation Gain
+210 ft
Type
Trail
Uses
Hike · Horse · Bike
Bikes
Seasonal (Jul 1 – Oct 31)
Stock / Horse
Allowed
Dogs
Allowed
Surface
Dirt
Manager
USFS Canyon Lakes Ranger District
Getting There
In the Molly Lake area just north of Red Feather Lakes village, off Molly Lake Road. The trail's lower (west) end sits nearest the Molly Lake access; confirm the trailhead and parking on the map before you go, as signage on these small Forest Service trails can be sparse.
| 0.0 mi | West / lower end — nearest Molly Lake & Molly Lake Road access |
| spur | Molly Lake Trail junction — short 0.1-mi walk to Molly Lake (just west of the lower end) |
| 1.9 mi | East / upper end |
Know Before You Go
- Uses. COTREX lists the Molly Moon as open to hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking on a dirt surface — bikes are seasonal (roughly July 1 through October 31). Dogs are allowed; leash and clean up after them.
- Molly Lake spur. A very short (0.1-mi) Molly Lake Trail drops to the pond a little west of Molly Moon's lower end, off Molly Lake Road — an easy add-on to touch the water.
- Part of the network. This is one of several small, close-to-town trails in the Molly Lake / Red Feather Lakes area managed by the USFS Canyon Lakes Ranger District.
- Check conditions. Distances and uses here are from COTREX; confirm current conditions, seasonal closures, and the trailhead with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District before you go.
Take the Trail With You
Load the route onto your phone's GPS app, or print the details for the glovebox.
Coming soon — the Red Feather Lakes Trail App: offline maps and live GPS for every local trail, right in your pocket.
Built by Many Hands — Give a Little Back
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Shop the Collection →These trails don't tend themselves either. Every mile is watched over by volunteers and public stewards we lean on to bring you this guide — if you love these mountains, please pitch in for them too:
- Poudre Wilderness Volunteers — trail patrols & the official trail description Donate →
- Colorado Parks & Wildlife / COTREX — the mapped trail route & statewide trail data Donate →
- Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest (USFS) — the public land itself Support →
- OpenStreetMap contributors — the Street basemap Donate →
- Google & USGS — trailhead location, ratings & topographic maps
Trail details compiled by the Red Feather Lakes Travel Guide from the sources above. Photography by us — more of our own trail images coming as we hike them.