Comanche Lake Trail

A couple hours from Fort Collins, and west into the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest, you can find a plethora of dog friendly hiking, including the Comanche Lake Trail. This trail is very lightly travelled, so if you’re looking for some solitude in the wilderness with your best pal, this may be the trail for you! There is even a pretty subalpine lake at the end of the trail to top it off.

The most popular and easiest way to access Comanche Lake Trail is from the Beaver Creek Trailhead. At this trailhead along Forest Road #145, there is a small, free parking lot. From here, you’ll need to continue along Beaver Creek Trail for about 4.2 miles to get to the Comanche Lake Trail junction. The Beaver Creek Trail passes north of the Hourglass Reservoir and the Comanche Reservoir before entering the Comanche Peak Wilderness, and splitting south towards Comanche Lake. The trip to get to the start of Comanche Lake Trail is much longer than the trail itself, so be prepared to spend most of your day hiking!

Comanche Lake Trail is a fairly easy, well-marked trail that offers shade through a dense subalpine fir and engelmann spruce forest. There are plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities, so bring your binoculars! Once you arrive at Comanche Lake, your puppers can cool their paws while you cast a line. The lake is very scenic, and offers good fishing. The trail is not recommended for use in the winter or spring, because crossing Beaver Creek may be impossible or unsafe due to high water levels. Camping is only allowed at designated sites, and fires are prohibited in the area.

Please keep your doggo leashed at all times, and don’t let them disturb the wildlife. Remember to pack out whatever you packed in, so that you can leave the area as clean and beautiful as you found it. Always have clean up bags on hand.

Comanche Lake Trail is sure to melt away your stress, and give you some great memories with Fido!