Little Beaver Creek (#948)

At Jacks Gulch Campground travel west through the campground on Old Flowers Road for less than a mile to where Little Beaver Creek Connector Trail leads southward for a mile before crossing the creek. Hiking westward along the creek will lead to Beaver Park and a junction with Flowers Trail. Beaver Park can also be accessed by continuing west on Old Flowers Road about 6 miles from Jacks Gulch Campground. A loop can be hiked by traveling to Beaver Park from Jacks Gulch on either the Flowers Trail or Little Beaver Trail and returning by the other. From the junction at Beaver Park, the Little Beaver Creek Trail continues sharply uphill for little more than a mile to intersect Upper Dadd Gulch Trail (#938). Access to the Little Beaver Creek Trail from the shared trailhead on Pingree Park Road is via the Fish Creek Trail about 2 miles west of the trailhead. The ½-mile connector drops down to meet Little Beaver Creek a few hundred yards west of the stream crossing on the trail coming south from Jacks Gulch. Most of the trail is located within the Comanche Peak Wilderness.

You can find more information on the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers website. Download trail summary here.

At a Glance

Usage: Light
Restrictions: General Wilderness Regulations: Dogs must be on a hand held leash. No motorized or mechanized equipment. Camps, campfires and stock, where allowed, at least 200 feet from water and trails. Group size limited to 12 people or stock animals combined. Certified weed-free hay is required for stock.
Closest Towns: Rustic, Fort Collins
Water: Water can be filtered and treated from nearby water sources.
Restroom: Practice Leave No Trace principles.

General Information

Directions: Travel 11 miles northwest of Fort Collins on U.S. Highway 287 to Colorado Highway 14. Turn left on CO 14, travel 26 miles, and turn left on County Road 63E, Pingree Park Road. Little Beaver Creek Trail can be accessed from two locations. Either follow Pingree Park Road 7 miles to Jacks Gulch Campground (the trailhead is at the northwest corner of the campground), or travel 8.5 miles to a roadside trailhead for the Fish Creek Trail (#993) which connects to the Little Beaver Creek Trail.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Day Hiking

Access the Little Beaver Creek Trail from the Fish Creek Trail. An alternate access to the Little Beaver Creek Trail is from Jack's Gulch Campground. Following Little Beaver Creek, the trail gradually climbs up the canyon, eventually reaching Beaver Park, a popular camping spot. Look for beaver and bring your fishing pole, as brook trout are plentiful in the stream. See Fish Creek trailhead information (off County Road 63E).
Fire Information Check for any seasonal fire restrictions before your hike. This trail is within the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area, where campfires must be at least 200 feet from water and trails. You may collect dead and down wood; do not break branches from standing trees for firewood. Please attend to campfires at all times. Touch any remaining coals with the bare hand to insure campfire is cold and dead out. Remember, if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave!
Difficulty Level: Moderate

Backpacking

See Fish Creek trailhead information (off County Road 63E).
Fire Information Check for any seasonal fire restrictions before your hike. This trail is within the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area, where campfires must be at least 200 feet from water and trails. You may collect dead and down wood; do not break branches from standing trees for firewood. Please attend to campfires at all times. Touch any remaining coals with the bare hand to insure campfire is cold and dead out. Remember, if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave!
Difficulty Level: Moderate

Horse Riding

See Fish Creek Trail for trailhead information (off County Road 63E).
Size Restrictions no
Corrals no
Loading Ramp no
Hitching Rails no
Difficulty Level: Moderate

Know Before You Go

Related Information

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities

Related Links

Campgrounds At-A-Glance

Location

 
  Area/Length : 
6.9 miles one-way

  Latitude : 
40.63714017670

  Longitude : 
-105.52384156100

  Elevation : 
Beginning Elevation: 8,100' - Peak Elevation: 9,500'