Big South Trail

The Big South follows the Cache la Poudre River the way a good conversation follows a thread — never straying far, always coming back to the water. From the trailhead just off CO-14, the path slips into a densely forested corridor and, within half a mile, crosses into the Comanche Peak Wilderness and the Big South Travel Zone. The river does the talking: roaring and white in late spring, mellowing to a summer murmur that pulls the heat out of the afternoon. It climbs gently overall, but don't mistake gentle for easy — the tread narrows to contour steep, rocky hillsides and crosses a talus slope where footing asks for your full attention.

Look closely and you'll see the hand-laid rock work of the Civilian Conservation Corps, who built this trail in the 1930s; the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers patched it back together after the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire swept through. That fire left its mark — some stretches are burned, though much of the corridor stayed green — and burned country carries its own cautions: trees that fall without warning, hidden stump holes, and flash flooding that can arrive from a rainstorm miles upstream. Moose browse the willows here, so give them a wide berth. Pack a head net for the mid-summer mosquitoes and treat the river water for giardia. Most hikers plan their turnaround near mile 6.9 at the Flowers Trail junction, where the old bridge to the west bank washed out decades ago and the trail fords the Poudre — a crossing that is difficult to dangerous in high runoff (flows are shaped by releases from Long Draw Reservoir). Beyond the ford, Big South (#944) pushes on another three-plus miles into the high, quiet wilderness, but few go that far.

Trail Facts

Getting There

From Ted's Place, drive 48.7 miles up CO-14 into the upper Poudre Canyon to mile marker 74.2. The parking area and trailhead are on the left (south) side of the highway, just before a bridge and the Big South Campground. There's room for a large stock trailer, and toilets are at the campground. The lot is often plowed in winter, though it's a lower priority than the Cameron Pass lots — snowshoes are usually needed, and the narrow, rocky side slopes with drop-offs can be dangerous when they hold snow.

0.0 mi	Trailhead on CO-14 (mm 74.2) — Big South Campground & toilets
0.5 mi	Enter the Comanche Peak Wilderness & Big South Travel Zone
2.3 mi	May Creek — bridged crossing
3.2 mi	Grass Creek — unbridged crossing, can be impassable in high runoff
6.8 mi	Flowers Trail junction
6.9 mi	Poudre ford (old washed-out bridge) — recommended turnaround; dangerous in high water
10.2 mi	Trail's south end, deep in the Comanche Peak Wilderness

Know Before You Go

• The Poudre ford is the crux. Near mile 6.9 the trail crosses the river where the old bridge washed out — difficult to dangerous in spring and early-summer runoff (and shaped by Long Draw Reservoir releases). Most hikers turn around here; only ford when the water is genuinely low and safe.
• Burn country. This trail ran through the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire — watch for falling trees, hidden stump holes, rockslides, and flash flooding that can hit from a rainstorm far upstream.
• Wilderness rules. After 0.5 mile you're in the Comanche Peak Wilderness: no bikes, no wheeled or motorized use, group size capped at 12 people and stock combined.
• Grass Creek crossing. The unbridged crossing at mile 3.2 can be impassable or unsafe in spring high water, even if you're set to wade.
• Moose & bugs. Moose frequent the river willows — keep your distance; and pack a head net and repellent, as the corridor stays wet and buggy into mid-July.
• Water, but treat it. The river is right beside you nearly the whole way, but treat every drop — giardia is present.
• Dogs on leash. Dogs must be on a hand-held leash with hikers.
• Camping limits. No camping or fires within a quarter mile of the trailhead; inside the Travel Zone, stay 200 feet from water and trail, chemical stoves only, no fires.