Dead Horse Loop
Dead Horse Loop is a 5.5-mile snow trail in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Colorado. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 39.9084° N, 105.8811° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 39.9113° N, 105.9042° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 2 segments.
The trail
| Length | 5.5 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | snow trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 0-5 percent |
| Typical tread width | over 120 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | SNO-165 |
| Forest | Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests (unit 0210) |
| States | Colorado |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Snowshoeing | Allowed year-round |
| Cross-country skiing | Allowed 11/16 to 05/31 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
Leland Trailhead No season published | under 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
34 mi from the trail midpoint · 390 acres
- PrescribedFront Country Broadcast Rx
37 mi from the trail midpoint
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Dead Horse Loop?
The Forest Service records 5.5 miles under this name in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, the sum of 2 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Dead Horse Loop?
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Dead Horse Loop start?
The line begins at 39.9084° N, 105.8811° W and ends at 39.9113° N, 105.9042° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Leland Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Dead Horse Loop in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Dead Horse Loop?
St. Louis Creek (1.8 mi) is within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists it with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Dead Horse Loop?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Dead Horse Loop?
The typical grade is 0-5 percent. The typical tread is over 120 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Dead Horse Loop?
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Forest Service unit 0210. The trail is in Colorado.
Source: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests official page
Is there a fire near the Dead Horse Loop?
The interagency feed shows 2 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Harris Park Broadcast Rx at 34 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 2 segments named Dead Horse Loop in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0210. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.