Shipman Park Trail

Shipman Park is backcountry in the truest sense — a nearly seven-mile trail that leaves the lower country near the Laramie River drainage around 8,500 feet and works its way southwest, gaining roughly 1,400 feet on its way into the northwest reaches of the Comanche Peak Wilderness. The lower stretch follows an old dirt track through lodgepole and meadow openings; higher up it narrows to a genuine footpath as it climbs toward a trail-network junction near 9,900 feet. COTREX and the Canyon Lakes Ranger District list it as open to hikers and stock but closed to bikes and any motorized use — it sits inside designated Wilderness, so that's foot-and-hoof travel only.

About four and a nine-tenths miles up, a short offshoot — the 0.8-mile Shipman Park Spur Trail — branches off to the northwest and dead-ends up in the park itself, a nice out-and-back if you want the meadow without committing to the full upper climb. Keep going on the main trail and you top out at a quiet junction with the Ute Pass, Medicine Bow, and McIntyre Trails, which opens up longer loops and through-hikes across this seldom-traveled corner of the wilderness. This is remote, high, and lightly signed country — carry a map, treat your water, and check current conditions and access with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District before you go.

Trail Facts

Getting There

This is remote upper-Poudre / Laramie River backcountry in the northwest corner of the Comanche Peak Wilderness, reached off the Laramie River Road (Larimer CR 103) network well up CO-14. The trail's lower end sits near 8,500 feet; its upper end ties into the Ute Pass, Medicine Bow, and McIntyre Trails around 9,900 feet. Access roads and trailhead specifics change with the season — confirm the trailhead, road status, and current conditions with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District before heading out, and bring a paper map.

Know Before You Go

• Wilderness rules. This trail is inside the Comanche Peak Wilderness — hiking and stock only, no bikes, e-bikes, or motorized use, per COTREX and the Canyon Lakes Ranger District.
• Take the spur if you want the meadow. The short 0.8-mile Shipman Park Spur Trail branches northwest near mile 4.9 and ends up in the park itself — a manageable out-and-back without the full upper climb.
• Part of a bigger network. The upper end meets the Ute Pass, Medicine Bow, and McIntyre Trails, so you can build longer loops or a through-hike across this quiet corner of the wilderness.
• Come prepared and check first. This is remote, high, lightly used country — carry a map, treat your water, and confirm current conditions and access with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District before you go.