Stormy Peaks Trail

Stormy Peaks Trail (#980) is a hard out-and-back from Stormy Peaks Trailhead to the mapped North Fork Trail connection in Rocky Mountain National Park. The mapped corridor is about 7.16 miles each way; follow it back for 14.3 miles round trip. Allow 8–10 hours for the long climb, uneven ground and stops. It starts across a moraine, climbs into open high country, crosses Comanche Peak Wilderness and continues into the park. Pick it for a strenuous, remote day with broad mountain views.

The first mile follows a moraine before the trail begins to rise. The climb opens views over Pingree Park toward the Mummy Range, then carries on through exposed high-country terrain. Terrain samples along this mapped line rise above 11,000 feet, so expect a full day at altitude. The best view to frame is from the climbing section, with the open valley below and the Mummy Range beyond it.

This route follows Trail #980 over Stormy Peaks Pass to the mapped junction with North Fork Trail, then returns the same way. The 14.3-mile figure does not include a summit scramble or the separate B-17 crash-site spur. The Forest Service also describes a through-hike continuing on North Fork toward Dunraven; that point-to-point backpack needs pickup logistics and is not the hike mapped here. The agency gives written directions but no downloadable track, so use a current map to confirm the North Fork junction. The exact endpoint is based on the connected mapped trail corridor.

From CO 14, follow County Road 63E about 17.5 miles to Stormy Peaks Trailhead, just south of the Colorado State University Mountain Campus entrance. The Forest Service lists room for about seven vehicles. The last approach is close to campus access; follow posted public trailhead directions and check signs before continuing on a campus road.

The mapped route enters Rocky Mountain National Park, where pets are prohibited; leashed dogs may be allowed on the Forest Service section, but pets cannot do this full route. An overnight camping permit is required for camping in the park; the Forest Service page does not identify a day-hike permit. No dependable water source or service is documented along the route. The upper trail is exposed to weather, and the high point is uncertain: terrain models put the mapped ridge above 11,000 feet, while an official page field lists a lower figure. Plan for altitude without relying on a single published peak number.