Stormy Peaks Trail

The Stormy Peaks Trail in the Arapaho & Roosevelt Mountains has plenty to offer hikers and their dogs. Some highlights include spectacular views of Pingree Park, and the Mummy Range. Located within Bellvue, Colorado, the trail passes through a portion of the Comanche Peak Wilderness until it hits the Rocky Mountain National Forest. This trail is the pawfect way to spend some quality time in the wilderness with your canine companion.

The Stormy Peaks Trail is about 1 hour and 45 minutes west of the larger town of Fort Collins, located on Pingree Park Road. The trailhead can be found a few hundred feet south of the Pingree Park Campus of Colorado State University. Once you arrive at the trailhead, you’ll find free parking that fits seven cars. From here, you can grab your adventure pal and hit the trail!

The trail mostly follows along a moraine above the South Fork of the Poudre River. The first, lower portion of the trail passes through a dense forest of young aspen and pine, before heading up into a more mature pine forest. You’ll notice a couple spur trails along the way that branch off to your left, offering great lookout points over Pingree Park, with views of the Mummy Range and Twin Lake Reservoir.

At about 3.1 miles, the trail hits the borderline to the Rocky Mountain National Forest. Some hikers choose to continue straight into the Rocky Mountain National Forest to hook onto some other trails and go over the Stormy Peaks Pass. Keep in mind that dogs are not allowed within the Rocky Mountain National Forest, so at this point you will need to double back to your original starting point with your furry pal. 

Doggos are more than welcome to join their humans on these trails, as long as they stay leashed, and leave only paw prints. Roundtrip, the trail may take just over 4 hours, making it a great way to spend a day with your best pal. It’s fairly secluded and lightly travelled, so you’ll have plenty of solitude to commune with nature.

All in all, the beautiful natural surroundings along Stormy Peaks Trail are sure to put a smile on your face and a wag in your dog’s tail!