Leave No Trace
Overview
| Wilderness One Way Length Beginning Elevation Peak Elevation Gain/Loss/Net Gain Ratings USFS Regulations Trails Illustrated Quadrangle |
None 1.9 miles (trailhead to Montgomery Pass) 10,009 10,990 996/15/+981 Hikers – Easy to Moderate; Stock – Moderate National Forest # 112 Poudre River, Cameron Pass Clark Peak |
Location
The trailhead is located across the highway from the Zimmerman Lake Trailhead. The trail begins in the Roosevelt National Forest and enters the Colorado State Forest.
Poudre Canyon, 57.4 miles from Ted’s Place (at mm 66.3), at the Zimmerman Lake Trailhead parking lot. The Montgomery Pass trailhead is across the highway near the lower end of the parking lot. Facilities located at the parking lot.
| GPS Coordinates Trailhead RNF - CO State Forest boundary Montgomery Pass |
N40°32.405’ W105°52.931’ Map N40°32.438’ W105°53.883’ N40°32.564’ W105°54.397’ |
Description
This is a popular trail, because it is short, and you can get above timberline in a short time. The trail begins in multi-use National Forest. It leaves the Roosevelt National Forest and goes into the Colorado State Forest after a short but steep 1.3-mile hike through a subalpine area supporting large Douglas-fir and Engelmann spruce trees. Wildflowers put on a tremendous display immediately after snow melt and continue through most of the summer. After entering the Colorado State Forest, continue on for another 0.5 mile to Montgomery Pass. The views are spectacular from here in all directions North Park fans out to the west, and you will have great views of the Neota Wilderness to the east. The trail follows the route of an old jeep road that was used to access North Park before the road over Cameron Pass was built. You will notice the remains of an old log cabin on the way up, at the Colorado State Forest boundary (unmarked). Tom Montgomery, a well-known resident of Larimer County, may have built the cabin around 1900.
