Signal Mountain Trail

Signal Mountain starts by heading down before it ever heads up — the trail drops off Pingree Park Road on loose dirt and delivers you to a small tributary of Pennock Creek, where a few weathered timbers mark an old fish barrier once built to guard the native greenback cutthroat, Colorado's state fish (no fishing above this point). From here the path settles into an easy rhythm along the water, climbing gently through a patchwork of green timber and Cameron Peak Fire burn as it follows the creek to the Comanche Peak Wilderness boundary at mile 2.1. This is moose country — they browse the willows near the creek and are common enough that you should be looking for them, not just at the view.

Past the boundary the trail turns east, then leans into the real work: it pulls away from the East Fork of Pennock Creek and climbs steeply to a striking granite pinnacle around mile 4.5, a natural spot to catch your breath (and a fair turnaround if the summit feels like too much). From there it steepens again, zigzagging past the Lookout Mountain Trail junction and up through pockets of wind-bent limber pine to timberline, finishing near Signal Mountain's summit before ending in the saddle at the Bulwark Ridge and South Signal Mountain trails. The reward up top is a full sweep of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, the Mummy Range, and the Rawahs — but it's earned honestly: the last miles are exposed, so watch the afternoon sky for lightning, carry all your water (the creek only serves the lower 3.25 miles), and in burn country keep an eye uphill for falling trees and washouts after rain.

Trail Facts

Getting There

From Ted's Place, drive 26.5 miles up CO-14 to Pingree Park Road at mile marker 96.1, cross the Cache la Poudre River, and follow the Pingree Park Road about 13.6 miles. The trailhead is on the east side of the road, roughly 1.3 miles south of the Buckhorn Road (CR-44H) junction. There are no toilets at the trailhead, and stock riders will find only very limited parking on the west side of the road.

Know Before You Go

• Burn country. This is Cameron Peak Fire (2020) terrain — watch for falling trees, hidden stump holes, rockslides, and flash flooding after even light rain (it can strike far downstream).
• Wilderness rules. Inside the Comanche Peak Wilderness there are no bikes, no motorized use, and group size is capped at 12 (people and stock combined).
• Moose are common near Pennock Creek — give them a wide berth and keep dogs close.
• Dogs on a hand-held leash with hikers (voice control only if you're with stock).
• Carry your water. The creek serves only the lower 3.25 miles — there's none past that, so pack enough for the climb and summit, and treat what you filter.
• Exposed up high. Watch the afternoon sky for lightning above timberline, and expect a very active marmot colony at the summit — guard your pack.
• Route-finding. The trail holds snow in winter with no winter markings, and burned stretches can be faint — carry a map (Trails Illustrated #112) or the COTREX app.