North Boundary Trail

Up in the headwaters country where the Cache la Poudre gathers its first cold water, the North Boundary Trail runs about 3.2 miles of dirt tread along the very top edge of Rocky Mountain National Park — the seam where the Park meets the Comanche Peak Wilderness and the high, lonely upper Poudre. This is our backyard from the north: you reach it from our side of the divide, off the upper canyon rather than from the crowded park entrances to the south, and it stays honest, primitive, and blessedly empty.

COTREX lists it as a hiking and horse trail on natural dirt — no bikes, no motorcycles, no ATVs — and because it hugs the National Park boundary, dogs are almost certainly not allowed along the Park-side stretch, so plan to leave the pup at home. We don't have a surveyed elevation profile or up-to-date closure information for this one, so treat it as real, remote backcountry: carry a map, tell someone your plan, watch the afternoon sky for lightning up high, and check current conditions with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District (and Rocky Mountain National Park) before you go.

Trail Facts

Getting There

This is a remote upper-Poudre backcountry trail along the northern boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park, reached from the Long Draw Road / Corral Creek side off CO-14 in the upper canyon rather than from the main park entrances. There's no developed trailhead close to the tread — confirm your access point and current road status on the map and with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District before heading out. The upper-Poudre access roads are closed and unplowed in winter.

Know Before You Go

• Hike and horse only. COTREX lists this as a hiking and equestrian trail on natural dirt — no bikes, no motorcycles, no ATVs.
• Leave the dog home. The trail runs along the Rocky Mountain National Park boundary, and dogs are not allowed on Park-side sections — plan for a dog-free day.
• Real backcountry. This is part of the remote upper-Poudre / Comanche Peak Wilderness & National Park boundary network — primitive, lightly traveled, and easy to have to yourself. Carry a map and be self-sufficient.
• Check before you go. We don't have a current elevation profile or closure details for this trail — confirm conditions and access with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District and Rocky Mountain National Park, and expect winter road closures up high.