Free — you'll pick up right here.

Watch this trail

Sign up to watch it — saving subscribes you to gate, closure and report changes.

Colorado

Lost Chicken

16.8 mi

Distance

424 ft

Gain

No verdict for this trail

We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.

What we do know

Inside San Juan National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data

What's missing

No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.

Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.

Why you'll love it

Out & back

Here's your day, mapped

Lost Chicken

AI-suggested draft · review before you go

Building your full AI plan…

Meals

Building your meal plan…

Gear for the day

Building your gear list…

Elevation & route

Distance: 16.8 mi
Elevation gain: 424 ft

More about this trail ↓

Photos

Directions & GPX

Get Directions

Permits & access

Managing agency: Rio Grande NF — Divide RD

About this trail

Lost Chicken Trail is a 16.8-mile out-and-back route located in Colorado near the town of Colorado, within Rio Grande National Forest under the management of the Divide Ranger District. This trail offers an extended hiking experience through the national forest landscape characteristic of the region. The out-and-back format means hikers will travel to a turnaround point and retrace their route, making it easy to customize the hike length by turning back at any point along the trail. The full distance of 16.8 miles provides a substantial day hike or backpacking option for those seeking a longer adventure. Rio Grande National Forest is known for its diverse terrain and scenic mountain vistas. Hikers should check current conditions with the Divide Ranger District before heading out, as trail conditions can vary seasonally. The trail is accessible through Rio Grande National Forest, which offers a range of outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the year.

Add to a trip & share

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Dolph Kuss Loop (Snow)

~2 min drive

3.1 mi · Moderate

Muleshoe Loop

~5 min drive

2.0 mi · Easy

Point Lookout Trail

~19 min drive

<p>The Point Lookout Trail climbs up the iconic Point Lookout, the geological formation that towers above the park entrance. The trail offers views of the San Juan and La Plata Mountains, as well as Mancos and Montezuma Valleys.</p> <h4>Trail Description</h4> <p>The 2.2-mile (…

Little Taylor

~21 min drive

7.4 mi · Hard

Morrison

~20 min drive

5.6 mi · Moderate

Three Heroes

~15 min drive

1.5 mi · Easy

Mesa Verde National Park Entrance Station

~16 min drive

Mesa Verde National Park entrance station.

Millset (Snow)

~1 min drive

6.7 mi · Hard

Dolph Kuss

~1 min drive

3.1 mi · Moderate

Prater Ridge Trail

~20 min drive

<p>The trail traverses Prater Ridge which divides Prater and Morefield Canyons. The South Loop offers views into Prater Canyon, named for an early pioneer family. The North Loop ascends for views into Montezuma Valley and the beautiful San Juan Mountains.</p> <h4>Trail Descrip…

Also worth it near here