Leave No Trace
Overview
| Wilderness One Way Length Beginning Elevation Peak Elevation Gain/Loss/Net Gain Ratings USFS Regulations Trails Illustrated Quadrangle |
Comanche Peak 5.4 miles (11.2 miles entire trail, refer to Signal Mtn. patrol) 7,894 11,056 3,251/89/+3,162 Hikers – Strenuous; Stock Riders – Challenging National Forest > Wilderness #101 Cache La Poudre, Big Thompson (#200 RMNP) Glen Haven, Crystal Mountain, Pingree Park |
Location
From the Dam Store at the mouth of the Big Thompson Canyon, drive nine miles up US-34 to Drake. Turn right on CR-43; Follow it for 6.1 miles to Dunraven Glade, (CR-51B), which heads to the northwest. Dunraven Glade is gravel. Follow this road for 2.5 miles to the parking lot. Park here and follow a gated road heading to the northwest for 0.3 mile. The trailhead will be on your right. Facilities are available at the parking lot.
| GPS Coordinates Trailhead Indian Trail jct. S. Signal Mtn. approach |
N40°28.40’ W105°27.59’ Map N40°29.164’ W105°27.95’ N40°30.99’ W105°30.79’ |
Description
This trail is the southern approach to South Signal Mountain and North Signal Mountain. The actual trailhead is about 0.3 mile up the road, above the parking lot. From the trailhead you will climb steeply to the north for about 0.75 mile, where you will intersect the Indian/Miller Fork Trail that heads steeply downhill to the northeast. From here, the trail swings back to the northwest, climbing through an evergreen forest along Bulwark Ridge. The trail then enters the Wilderness, about 1.4 miles from the trailhead. For about the next 3.9 miles, the trail will follow the Comanche Peak Wilderness boundary. Because this is a southerly facing slope, it can be quite dry and hot during the summer months. No water is available, so carry plenty. At a point just below South Signal Mountain you will reach a trail junction. Take the right branch to continue on to the summit. Climb to the saddle between North and South Signal Mountains, from here you can climb cross-country to the summit. The views from this point are spectacular in all directions. If you feel ambitious, you can backtrack to the saddle and climb North Signal Mountain.
