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Wow, what a backpacking trip and it is all downhill! Where is that you ask? There is a trail that starts on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) about .5 miles east of Milner Pass, where the Continental Divide crosses the highway. This trail takes you north for 23 miles through the park and the new Comanche Peak Wilderness Area. You start at Poudre Lake which is the headwaters for the Cache La Poudre River. You will hike along the river for the entire distance and finally exit at Big South Campground next to C014 about 9 miles east of Cameron Pass. The river, before it exits the RMNP, has been designated by Congress as the “Peter H. Dominick Wild River”. By backpacking this trail from south to north, it is downhill all the way and good time can be made. Two or possibly three days should be allotted for the trip. Transportation must be arranged or a vehicle staged at the far end for getting home. The quickest route to take a vehicle to Big South Campground is via the communities of Grand Lake, Granby, Rand, Gould and over Cameron Pass to Big South Campground. It should be pointed out that backpack campsites within RMNP must be reserved in advance by date and campsite location. Campsites are free, reservations can be made starting March 1 of the year in which the trip is made. How to get there: Drive to RMNP and take US 34 over Trail Ridge Road to a location .25 mile east of Poudre Lake. There is a small parking area on the south side of Trail Ridge Road for the Poudre River Trailhead, see map notation (P)1 on the Poudre River Trail map. If this small lot is full use the parking lot at Poudre Lake. The trail: The trail starts on the north side of the road and takes a northeast direction, immediately it starts paralleling the Cache La Poudre River. The trail descends a long valley, at 6 miles it intersects with the Chapin Trail also coming from the south. The Chapin Trail starts about 3.8 miles south at Chapin Pass on the Fall River Road. Continue left pass this trail intersection for another .5 mile, you will now be on the valley floor. There are both group and smaller campsites at this location that can be reserved through RMNP, see map notation campsite 1. Water is readily available from the river and a smaller tributary. Continue north on the trail, in another 3.5 miles you will cross Hague Creek and the Mummy Pass Trail will intersect from the east. Another RMNP campsite is located near this intersection, see map notation campsite 2. Continuing north approximately .5 mile you leave RMNP and enter the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area. In less than .25 mile FS944 intersects from the west. FS944 descends west for 1.5 miles to Long Draw Campground and Ranger Station. The Cache la Poudre River Trail we have been following is now designated as FS944 by the Forest Service. Hike 4.5 additional miles and two trails will appear. First, the Peterson Lake Trail from the west. Peterson Lake does not provide good campsites and is not recommended. As you continue north (FS944) be sure you are on the east side of the river at this point. The second trail, known as the Flowers Trail (FS939), enters from the east. As you continue north on FS944 the river valley will widen into a meadow and campsites are available, see map notation campsite 3 on the Big South Trail map. This meadow is one of the most beautiful spots along this backpack route. From here it is 8 miles to Big South Campground.
Created on: 2024-09-08 12:32:01
Last edited by: rhall290472 On: 2024-09-18 20:01:42