Devils Thumb
Devils Thumb Trail is a 6.9-mile trail in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Colorado. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2 to 3, moderately developed to developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Indian Peaks Wilderness.
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 | 39.9545° N, 105.6166° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 39.9654° N, 105.6912° 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 5 segments.
The trail
| Length | 6.9 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed; 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 902 |
| 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
| Hiking | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed year-round |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
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.
Wilderness
- Indian Peaks WildernessFS · about 74% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Hessie Trailhead No season published Indian Peak Wilderness restrictions apply: Motorized equipment and mechanized transportation are prohibited. Pets must be on a hand-held leash at all times. Campfires are prohibited year round. Campsites must be at least 100 feet away from water and trail. Group size is limited to 12 (people and livestock combined). Processed weed-free feed is required for stock. Practice Leave No Trace principles. Fishing and hunting: permitted in accordance with regulations established by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife. | 0.3 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
- PrescribedFront Country Broadcast Rx
27 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
32 mi from the trail midpoint · 390 acres
- PrescribedSalt Cabin Broadcast Rx
48 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
Guidebooks for Indian Peaks Wilderness and Colorado
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- A Fly Fishing Guide to Colorado's Indian Peaks Wilderness AreaSteven B. Schweitzer and Michael Kruise, 2024Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Devils Thumb Trail?
The Forest Service records 6.9 miles under this name in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, the sum of 5 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Devils Thumb Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking 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 Devils Thumb Trail start?
The line begins at 39.9545° N, 105.6166° W and ends at 39.9654° N, 105.6912° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Hessie Trailhead, 0.3 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Devils Thumb Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Indian Peaks Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Indian Peaks Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Devils Thumb Trail?
Rainbow Lakes Campground (4.1 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 Devils Thumb Trail?
Trail class 2 to 3, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed to 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 Devils Thumb Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Devils Thumb Trail a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Scenic or Historic Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Devils Thumb Trail?
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 Devils Thumb Trail?
The interagency feed shows 3 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Front Country Broadcast Rx at 27 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 5 segments named Devils Thumb 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.