Beaver Creek Trail

Beaver Creek is a long, rewarding climb into the Comanche Peak Wilderness, and it wears its history in the open: much of this country burned in the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire — the largest in Colorado's history — and the trail now threads between green pockets of lodgepole and silvered stands of standing snags. It starts gently along the north shoulders of the Hourglass and Comanche reservoirs (you can see both from a rise near mile two), then leans into the real work: a steady, sometimes steep push west toward timberline.

From about mile two to mile six the creek keeps you company — treat the water, giardia lives here. Higher up, the trail crosses the outlet of Browns and Timberline Lakes, brushes a short ankle-testing talus slope, and finally breaks above the trees near the remains of the old Brackenbury cabin, where rock cairns lead the last stretch to the Flowers Trail. This is real wilderness: bring layers, watch the afternoon sky for lightning, and in burned country keep an eye uphill for falling trees and washouts after rain.

Trail Facts

Getting There

From Ted's Place, drive 26.5 miles up CO-14 to Pingree Park Road (CR-63E) at mile marker 96.1, cross the Poudre, and follow it 15.9 miles to the Tom Bennett Campground turnoff. Cross the South Fork and continue to Sky Ranch. Note: the Cameron Peak Fire erased the trail between Trailhead-1 and Trailhead-2, so start at Trailhead-2 — a mile up a rough, high-clearance road past Sky Ranch — where your hike begins at mile 1.1. Seasonal toilets at Tom Bennett Campground; no water at either trailhead. The access road is closed and unplowed in winter.

Know Before You Go

• Burn country. This is Cameron Peak Fire (2020) terrain — watch for falling trees, hidden stump holes, rockslides, and flash flooding after even light rain (it can hit far downstream).
• It's a Wilderness trail: no bikes, no e-bikes, no motorized use; group size is capped at 12 (people and stock combined) inside the Comanche Peak Wilderness.
• Dogs must be on a hand-held leash with hikers.
• Stock riding is difficult — a 150-yard talus slope near mile 3.5 is hard on horses, and overnight stock isn't allowed in the Travel Zone.
• Water runs along the creek from about mile 2 to mile 6 — but treat it, giardia is present.
• An unbridged stream crossing near mile 4.7 can be a real wade in high runoff.
• Closed in winter (the access road isn't plowed), and watch the afternoon sky for lightning up high.