A Great Hike for Kids

The Rainbow Trail is a long trail that traverses almost the entire east side of the Sangre De Cristo mountains. A section of the Rainbow Trail south of the Comanche/Venable trailhead is an easy hike that is a good choice if hiking with children. The trailhead may be reached by heading south on Highway 69 from the Ranch, following the Highway through Westcliffe and continuing south approximately 3.3 miles south of town to Schoolfield Road. Turn right and proceed west on Schoolfield Road until the road ends at a T. Go left at the T and follow the road as it curves to the right. Watch for the sign indicating a right turn to the Comanche-Venable trailhead. From the parking lot at the trailhead, look for the Comanche trail to the left as you face the mountains.  Hike this trail for approximately 1/4 mile where it intersects the Rainbow Trail. Turn left and hike the Rainbow Trail southward. After about a mile, the trail crosses Hiltman Creek, a great place for a snack and for kids to play in the water. After another 1/2 mile, the trail runs along a ridge that provides scenic views of the Wet Mountain Valley and Horn Peak. This is a great place to rest, relax and enjoy the views before returning to your vehicle along the same route.