Colorado's Fish Creek Trail

Fish Creek Trail

Description:
The Fish Creek Trail begins on the Pingree Park Road and travels along Fish Creek for 6.6 miles through the Comanche Peak Wilderness to a trailhead near a church camp. Parking at the north trailhead is limited to the side of the road. The south trailhead offers more ample parking. The trail climbs up along the hillside from the road through ponderosa pine and aspen. It overlooks the Fish Creek drainage and offers a great view of the Mummy Range. The climb is of moderate difficulty over rocky areas. This stretch is a little over a mile before it begins to descend into the Fish Creek drainage. At about 1.8 miles it intersects the cutoff trail to the Little Beaver Creek Trail. The trail follows the north side of Fish Creek and at times is only a few feet away. It is fairly level along the creek. It passes through several small meadows with rock cairns marking the way. At about 5.25 miles the trail crosses the creek and makes a short climb up the steep hillside out of the drainage. From here it descends slightly to the south trailhead. As this trail passes through a wilderness, the rules for wilderness travel and camping must be followed.

Features:

Length:	6.6 miles (10.6 kilometers)
Elevation Range:	7,900' - 9,171'
Elevation change:	2,228 feet
Season:	May - October
Difficulty:	Easy to Moderate
Use:	Moderate
USGS maps:	Rustic, Pingree Park
Trailheads:	Fish Creek, Beaver Creek
Restrictions:	Pets must be on a leash
Suitable for mountain bikes:	No (not permitted in wilderness)
Suitable for horses:	Yes

Vicinity Map

Altitude Profile

Other Nearby Resources:

Jacks Gulch Campground	South Fork Poudre River
Fish Creek	Little Beaver Creek

Directions:
Take Highway 287 north from Fort Collins to Laporte. Continue on Highway 287 to Highway 14. Travel west on 14 for 24 miles to the Pinegree Park Road. Turn left and travel 7.2 miles to the Fish Creek Trailhead. To get to the south end of the trail travel another 8.3 miles to the Tom Bennett Campground. Turn right on Forest Road 145 toward Sky Ranch. Travel about 1.3 miles to the Beaver Creek Trailhead.