Connector Road · State Forest
Francisco Loop Road
A quiet dirt loop through the lodgepole of State Forest State Park — a mellow way to stretch a walk between the park's lakes and campgrounds.
Toggle Terrain / USGS Topo / Satellite / Street (top-right) · route © COTREX/CPW · tap a marker for waypoints
Francisco Loop Road is one of the interior access roads inside State Forest State Park, the big, quiet swath of lodgepole and willow-lined meadows just west over Cameron Pass from the Poudre Canyon. It runs about a mile and a half through the northeastern corner of the park, near North Michigan Reservoir, and while it's a road — you may share it with a slow-moving vehicle or a seasonal OHV — it makes an easy, level connector for anyone who'd rather walk than drive between the park's lakes, campsites, and trailheads.
Per COTREX the surface is native road, open to hiking, biking, and horses, with motorized and ATV use allowed only seasonally; dogs are welcome on leash. There's nothing dramatic here — no summit, no big view — just an unhurried, pine-scented stretch of the State Forest where you can piece together a longer loop on foot or turn the kids loose on bikes. State Forest State Park is a Colorado Parks & Wildlife property, so a valid parks pass is required; check current conditions and seasonal closures with the park before you go.
Trail Facts
Length
1.5 mi
Elevation
9,160 → 9,480 ft
Elevation Gain
+340 ft
Type
Forest road
Walkable
Yes — connector
Motor vehicles
Yes (OHV/ATV seasonal)
Uses
Hike · Bike · Horse
Dogs
On leash
Surface
Native road
Manager
State Forest State Park
Getting There
In the northeastern part of State Forest State Park, near North Michigan Reservoir. From Red Feather country the drive is up the Poudre Canyon on CO-14 and west over Cameron Pass into the park; the loop is one of the park's interior roads off the main park road. Confirm the exact turn on the park map, and note that a Colorado Parks & Wildlife parks pass is required to enter State Forest State Park.
| 0.0 mi | West end of the loop road |
| 1.0 mi | Short spur branches north (0.1 mi) |
| 1.5 mi | East end of the loop road |
Know Before You Go
- It's a road, not a trail. Expect a native-surface roadbed and the occasional vehicle; seasonal OHV and ATV use is allowed, so keep an ear out.
- Open to all quiet uses. Per COTREX it's fine for hiking, biking, and horseback, and it's a handy level connector for stitching a longer outing between the park's lakes and campgrounds.
- Dogs on leash. Bring water and pick up after them.
- Parks pass required. State Forest State Park is a CPW property — check current conditions, seasonal road status, and pass rules with the park before you go.
Take the Trail With You
Load the route onto your phone's GPS app, or print the details for the glovebox.
Coming soon — the Red Feather Lakes Trail App: offline maps and live GPS for every local trail, right in your pocket.
Built by Many Hands — Give a Little Back
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- Google & USGS — trailhead location, ratings & topographic maps
Trail details compiled by the Red Feather Lakes Travel Guide from the sources above. Photography by us — more of our own trail images coming as we hike them.