The Ten Essentials
Overview
| Wilderness One Way Length Beginning Elevation Peak Elevation Gain/Loss/Net Gain Ratings USFS Regulations Trails Illustrated Quadrangle |
Comanche Peak 2.1 miles (refer to Beaver Creek Trail) 10,945 11,182 681/444/+237 Hikers – Easy; Stock Riders – Easy Wilderness #112 Poudre River, Cameron Pass Comanche Peak |
Location
The Brackenbury Cabin trail branches off the Beaver Creek Trail. Drive up the Poudre Canyon 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 to the Tom Bennett Campground turnoff on the right side. Cross over the South Fork of the Cache La Poudre River and continue on to Sky Ranch. If the gate at the entrance to Sky Ranch is locked, begin your hike here (trailhead 1). There is parking and a clear trailhead. Note that this adds 1 mile to your one-way distance, whatever your final destination. The trail skirts Sky Ranch buildings, and rejoins the road. Turn right on the road, and follow it to trailhead 2. If the first gate is open, you can drive through Sky Ranch to a locked gate (at trailhead 2). Facilities are available at Tom Bennett Campground. Horse trailer parking is available at both trailheads. No water available at either trailhead. Alternatively, the Brackenbury Cabin Trail can be accessed from the Zimmerman (South) Trail via the Flowers Trail.
| GPS Coordinates Trailhead Jct. with Mirror Lake Trail |
N40°35.636’ W105°42.864’ Map N40°34.118’ W105°43.243’ |
Description
This trail begins very near the actual Brackenbury Cabin, where this trail branches off the upper Beaver Creek Trail about 0.3 mile below where the Beaver Creek Trail intersects the Flowers Trail. The trail goes to the south-southwest about 0.3 mile before turning to the south-southeast and continuing for another 1.2 miles until it ends at the Mirror Lake Trail. This trail junction is your turnaround point for this trail, or you can turn to the northwest onto the Mirror Lake Trail and follow it until it intersects with the Flowers Trail, take the Flowers Trail to the northeast to the intersection with the upper end of the Beaver Creek Trail and then follow either of these trails back to where you began. Or you could turn to the south onto the Mirror Lake Trail and follow it to the south and east until it intersects with the upper end of the Hourglass Trail, where you would turn to the northeast onto the Hourglass Trail and follow it down to the Beaver Creek Trail at Comanche Reservoir.
The Brackenbury Cabin Trail is above timberline nearly its entire length and affords panoramic views and access to lots of alpine wildflowers in the early and mid summer.
