Meadow Loop + Ridge Trail

Type … Hike

Highlights … Views, Aspens, Lake

Seasons … Late Spring, Summer + Fall

Difficulty with Kids … Easy to Moderate due to few steep pitches

Trail Details … 3.2 Miles, Lollipop (AllTrails)

Closest Town … Dillon + Frisco

Shade … Plenty (one longer exposed section)

Parking Situation … Limited/Small lot but some roadside overflow

Potty Situation … No Potty

TRAIL TIPS

Go counter clockwise at the loop. Either direction you go, you’ll have a few short steep sections. I suggest going counter clockwise at the loop so you’re walking towards the mountains + lake in the open meadow and can enjoy the views.
Perfect snack spot. At the middle point of the loop where you start to turn back, there are a few viewpoint areas that are the perfect snack spot / photo op.
Not a waterfront hike. While a section of the trail is along the water, it’s not necessarily a hike for water-play. See below for better options on Dillon Reservoir to splash around!
Wildflowers + Aspens. This trail will be beautiful during wildflower season and fall. We may have to make a few more stops here to check it out :)

MAKE A DAY OF IT

Giberson Bay. Check out our Drive-up post about this perfect little beach on Dillon Rez. One of our fave paddleboard spots too.
Frisco Bay Marina. Another great place to sit shoreline ~10 minutes from the trailhead. You can rent kayaks + paddleboards, eat at the marina restaurant and play on the playground.

We LOVE hanging out in the Dillon + Frisco area. It has the “high country” feel without the super long car ride and there are endless things to do around the lake and surrounding mountains.

My girlfriends and I snowshoed this trail over the winter, and I made a mental note to come back with the kiddos once things thawed out. We’ve been eager for alpine lake season to gear up again (family fave) + this late spring hike gave us the gorgeous water views we’ve been missing. The trail itself is really varied which kept my kids interested - a few switchbacks, a long meadow walk with a few wildflowers starting to pop, a couple steep pitches, and of course the lake views! You can access the water if you really want to but we saved water play for our next stop in Dillon.

Could be one of the best snack spots we've found

Can't wait to see the wildflowers pop here