The Ten Essentials
Overview
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Wilderness |
Comanche Peak 5.7 miles (trailhead to Emmaline Lake) 8,931 10,982 2,053/2/+2,051 Hikers – Strenuous; Stock Riders – Easy; Stock prohibited above Cirque Meadows National Forest > Wilderness & Travel Zone #112 Poudre River, Cameron Pass Pingree Park, Comanche Peak |
Location
Poudre Canyon. Drive 26.5 miles from Ted’s Place to the Pingree Park Road (at mm 96.1). Cross the Cache La Poudre River and drive 15.9 miles up the Pingree Park Road to the Tom Bennett Campground just below the CSU Pingree Park Campus. The trailhead is just past the campground. You can either park just off the road or follow a rough but passable road for 0.5 mile to a locked gate at the trailhead. Facilities are at Tom Bennett Campground.
| GPS Coordinates Trailhead just past campground Trailhead at locked gate |
N40°34.567’ W105°35.175’ Map N40°34.442’ W105°35.600’ Map |
Description
From the trailhead, the trail skirts the west side of the Pingree Park Campus, on a former jeep trail for 3.5 miles to Cirque Meadows—a popular destination for visitors. A forest fire started by lightning destroyed a considerable area of pine forest and much of the Pingree Park Campus in 1994. The impacts of the fire remain quite visible along the first mile or so of the trail. Notice the small and dense lodgepole pine and quaking aspen trees and the abundance of wildflowers that are flourishing in the burn area.
There are seven designated campsites with metal fire rings below and in Cirque Meadows; before you reach the Comanche Peak Wilderness and the Emmaline Lake Travel Zone. Campsite #1 is located at the junction of the Mummy Pass Trail. In the Cirque Meadows area proper, there are four campsites east of the meadow, and two campsites across Fall Creek to the north.
Special regulations: After you cross Fall Creek at Cirque Meadows and pass the last of the seven designated campsites described above, you come to the Comanche Peak Wilderness boundary. From the boundary to Emmaline Lake has been designated a Travel Zone. As in all Travel Zones, camping is restricted to designated sites; wood fires are prohibited and only self-contained chemical stoves may be used. Stock is prohibited past this point. Shortly after entering the Wilderness, there will be two designated campsites. Two additional designated campsites are located further along the trail; one on the north side of the trail about 0.7 mile above the first two and the last one on the south side of the trail less than 0.2 mile further up. As you continue on to Emmaline Lake, you will notice a sign designating a half-mile Closure Area around Emmaline Lake. Continue on up to Emmaline Lake, Cirque Lake and Upper Cirque Lake. This hike can be done in one or two days. If you do a two-day backpack, camp at one of the designated sites in Cirque Meadows. Before leaving the next day, you could hike the Mummy Pass Trail to the RMNP Boundary. Stay alert, because there is a large population of moose in this area.
| Seven designated campsites below the Travel Zone #1-“Y” Camp #2-Spruce Camp #3-Pine Camp #4-Fir Camp #5-Aspen Camp #6-Juniper Camp #7-Willow Camp Four designated campsites within the Travel Zone #1 #2 #3 #4 Emmaline Lake Closure Area boundary Emmaline Lake Cirque Lake |
N40°33.385’ W105°36.898’ N40°33.076’ W105°37.594’ N40°33.058’ W105°37.617’ N40°33.048’ W105°37.665’ N40°33.020’ W105°37.669’ N40°33.127’ W105°37.636’ N40°33.108’ W105°37.684’ N40°32.964’ W105°38.064’ N40°32.983’ W105°38.077’ N40°32.760’ W105°38.655’ N40°32.782’ W105°38.837’ N40°32.783’ W105°38.918’ N40°32.555’ W105°39.684’ N40°32.455’ W105°39.674’ |
