Montgomery Pass Trail

If you've got an afternoon near Cameron Pass and want the big alpine payoff without the all-day grind, this is the one. Montgomery Pass climbs fast — a shade under two miles — from a well-marked trailhead on CO-14 up through a dense, shady stand of Douglas-fir and Engelmann spruce, with Montgomery Creek chattering alongside for the first half-mile. The tread is well-worn and easy to follow, dotted in the trees with little blue diamond ski markers, and in early summer the forest floor lights up with wildflowers that linger well into the warm months.

The work is real but honest: about 1,000 feet of gain packed into a short push, steepest through that first 1.3 miles up to the old, half-fallen log cabin said to have been built by Larimer County homesteader Tom Montgomery back in 1900. Just past it you leave the trees for open tundra and a few rock cairns lead you the last half-mile to the pass itself, where North Park spreads out to the west and the Neota Wilderness rises to the east and southeast. That exposure cuts both ways — there's no cover up top, so climb early and turn around when afternoon thunderheads start building; lightning on this ridge is the real hazard, not the trail.

Trail Facts

Getting There

From Ted's Place (US-287 & CO-14), drive 57.4 miles up CO-14 through the Poudre Canyon toward Cameron Pass to the trailhead parking lot at mile marker 66.3, on the east side of the highway. It has toilets, two entrances, and room for any size stock trailer, but no water. The Montgomery Pass trailhead itself is across the highway on the west side, near the lower end of the parking lot. The lot is usually reachable in winter, but be ready for high-elevation winter driving — and in snow you'll need snowshoes or skis to travel the trail.

Know Before You Go

• Lightning is the danger. The top half-mile and the pass are fully exposed alpine tundra with no shelter — start early and be heading down before afternoon storms build.
• Short but steep. Nearly 1,000 feet of gain in under two miles, steepest through the forested first 1.3 miles — take your time and pace the climb.
• Water runs early only. The trail parallels Montgomery Creek for about the first half-mile; the highest source sits just below treeline and may be a trickle late in the season — carry your own and treat what you collect.
• Dogs under voice control. No leash required, but your dog must respond to voice command at all times.
• No bikes, no motors. Bicycles, other wheeled conveyances, and motorized travel are all prohibited on this trail.
• Winter is a different trail. The parking area is usually open, but the route becomes a snowshoe or ski tour — blown-over tracks up top can make it hard to find your way back into the trees.
• Stock feed rule. Any feed must be pellets or certified weed-free hay throughout the trip (and for 72 hours before) to avoid spreading noxious weeds.