Stormy Peaks Trail

The Stormy Peaks Trail starts just southeast of the CSU Mountain Campus and gets right down to business, climbing a moraine that rides high above the South Fork of the Poudre. The lower going is easy to read — a well-worn tread winding first through young aspen and pine, then into an older, mostly-pine forest — but it never really lets up, and a handful of big step-ups will have your legs talking to you well before the top. Half a mile in, a short spur breaks left to Denny's Point and its long looks at the Mummy Range; at three-quarters of a mile the trail forks, and you'll want the right branch (the left one drops away to Twin Lakes Reservoir).

The first 1.8 miles cross CSU land — no camping here — before you reach the National Forest and Comanche Peak Wilderness boundary, where the pitch steepens and a small seasonal stream can leave the tread muddy early in the year. From there it's 1.3 more miles of climbing, with good views back over Pingree Park, to the north boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park where the patrol ends. Much of this country saw the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire, so keep an eye uphill for leaning and falling trees, watch your footing near hidden stump holes, and turn back from the exposed upper stretches if an afternoon storm starts building — the alpine has no place to hide from lightning. Past the park boundary the trail keeps climbing another 3.7 miles inside Rocky Mountain National Park, cresting Stormy Peaks Pass (about 11,660 ft) before dropping toward a junction with the North Fork Trail (#929) — a classic point-to-point of roughly 6.9 miles one-way when paired with a shuttle out to the Dunraven Trailhead.

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 road 16.5 miles to the entrance of the CSU Mountain Campus. The Stormy Peaks trailhead sits a few hundred yards southeast of the entrance. Toilets & stock water are at Tom Bennett Campground (when open), about 0.5 mile before the trailhead on the north side of the road — there is no water at the trailhead itself, and only a small parking area with room for a small stock trailer. The lot is usually plowed in winter.

Know Before You Go

• Burn country. Much of this trail lies in the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire — watch for falling and leaning trees, hidden stump holes underfoot, rockslides, and flash flooding after even light rain (it can strike well downstream).
• Wilderness rules. Past mile 1.8 you're in the Comanche Peak Wilderness: no bikes, no motorized use, group size capped at 12 (people and stock combined), and chemical stoves only — no fires.
• CSU land first. The lower 1.8 miles cross Colorado State University property — absolutely no camping there, and camping and fires are prohibited within ¼ mile of the trailhead.
• Dogs on leash. Dogs must be on a hand-held leash with hikers (voice control with stock) on the National Forest portion.
• No dogs in the park. Dogs are not allowed on the trail past the Rocky Mountain National Park boundary at mile 3.1 — if you’re continuing over Stormy Peaks Pass toward the North Fork Trail, leave the dog at home.
• Tough for stock. Steady grade and large step-ups make this difficult for most horses — not recommended past mile 1.8; certified weed-free feed required.
• Water is limited. A small seasonal stream near the Wilderness boundary may run early or in a wet year, but don't count on it — carry your own and treat what you find.
• Lightning up high. The upper trail and alpine toward the RMNP boundary are exposed; start early and be off the open ground before afternoon storms build.