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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

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Hike

Rainbow Lake

Ends at Rainbow Lake
Inside Boise National Forest

3.7 mi out & back · 640 ft gain · 7,885 ft high point · Moderate

From Rainbow Lake/Caton Lake Trailhead via Caton Lake (1.5 mi)

In Boise National Forest · Idaho · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Rainbow Lake is a 3.7 mi out and back from Rainbow Lake/Caton Lake Trailhead via Caton Lake in Boise National Forest.

Elevation

640 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

7.1 mi from the trailhead
Poverty Flat
Campground

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

25 mi from you
Soldier Basin
- Ends at Dagger Falls
- Inside Frank Church-River Of No Return Wilderness
- 4,939 ft of climbing
13.7 mi one way · 4,939 ft gain · Very hard
Frank Church-River Of No Return Wilderness · Camp under a mile away

Out: 410 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Rainbow LakeDestination · 1.8 mi in

Map

The hike from its start, the approach dashed. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 3.7 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 640 ft round trip
High point: 7,885 ft
Low point: 7,485 ft
Difficulty: ModerateFrom 3.7 mi and 640 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: Idaho
Camps within 15 mi: 8
Start: Rainbow Lake/Caton Lake Trailhead
Trailhead: 44.8140° N · 115.5593° W

Get directions Open the map

7.3 mi from the trailhead

Four Mile

Campground

8.8 mi from the trailhead

Johnson Creek Guard Station

Campground · Idaho

20 mi from you

Morehead MTN

Summits Morehead Mountain
Inside Frank Church-River Of No Return Wilderness
3,179 ft of climbing

9.5 mi loop · 3,178 ft gain · Very hard

Frank Church-River Of No Return Wilderness · Camp 2 mi away

Parks Peak

Summits Parks Peak
Inside Payette National Forest
4,524 ft of climbing

13.0 mi out & back · 4,524 ft gain · Very hard

Payette National Forest · Camp 3 mi away

Honeymoon

Passes Morehead Mountain
Inside Frank Church-River Of No Return Wilderness
5,884 ft of climbing

19.0 mi out & back · 5,884 ft gain · Very hard

Frank Church-River Of No Return Wilderness · Camp 4 mi away

Miners Peak

Summits Miners Peak
Inside Payette National Forest
2,590 ft of climbing

5.6 mi out & back · 2,590 ft gain · Hard

Payette National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Log Mountain

Summits Log Mountain
Inside Payette National Forest
1,891 ft of climbing

9.3 mi out & back · 1,891 ft gain · Hard

Payette National Forest · Camp 3 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Caton Lake
- Near Rainbow Lake
- Inside Boise National Forest
- 3,075 ft of climbing
14.5 mi out & back · 3,075 ft gain · Very hard
Boise National Forest · Camp 7 mi away
Big Rainbow Lake
- Passes Big Trinity Lake
- Inside Boise National Forest
- 1,708 ft of climbing
6.0 mi out & back · 1,708 ft gain · Hard
Boise National Forest · Camp under a mile away
Middle Rainbow Lake
- Passes Big Trinity Lake
- Inside Boise National Forest
- 1,877 ft of climbing
6.4 mi out & back · 1,877 ft gain · Hard
Boise National Forest · Camp under a mile away
Rainbow Basin
- Passes Big Trinity Lake
- Inside Boise National Forest
- 2,721 ft of climbing
8.9 mi out & back · 2,721 ft gain · Hard
Boise National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Weather

7-day forecast

Today38°27°Sunny
Tue41°27°Mostly Cloudy
Wed41°28°Mostly Sunny
Thu37°27°Chance Snow Showers
Fri37°26°Slight Chance Snow Showers
Sat41°30°Mostly Sunny
Sun46°33°Mostly Sunny

Today: Sunny · wind 5 mph ESE

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain