Kelly Lake Trail

NOTE: This property is currently closed as NeverSummer, the yurt operator, is no longer in business.  The yurt is located near the small town of Walden, CO (coordinates: 40 33'57.43"N , 105 59'16.93"W) about two hours west of Fort Collins. In the winter, there are many backcountry ski runs, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing trails, and even some ice fishing. In the summer, there's an abun...

Round trip will take you along 13.2 beautiful miles of Northern Colorado backcountry. Starting from the trail head which can be found within the entrance of the park (near the horse ring and car camping), you'll head into some beautiful backcountry. Before you reach the woods, a 4x4 trail will be your main path for about 4 miles. Once finishing the 4x4 path, you'll hike through a smaller forest...

The Lower Montgomery Pass Yurt is a part of the Never Summer Nordic yurt system and can be reserved through their website here. In the summer it can be accessed via a 4WD road but in the winter the road closes and you can either ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile the 2.8 miles to the yurt. The trek begins at the Montgomery Pass winter parking lot which is located on the right side of Jackson County R...

To reach the Sawmill Creek Trailhead you have to park at the Blue Lake Trailhead parking lot located across from Long Draw Road (Rd 156) Turn-off. Once you park here you'll see a big sign for the Blue Lake Trail but you'll have to continue following the road up (Southwest) for about 100 yards until you find the Sawmill Creek Trailhead. From here you will start snowshoeing along an old logging r...

While the trail does have quite a bit of elevation gain you don't really feel it since it is dispersed among five miles of trail. The first part of the trail is a wider road with a few look out points of nearby Chambers Lake. About two miles in you reach the end of the National Forest area. From here there are no longer blue tree markers on trees telling you where to go, but don't worry, the tr...

From the front range, drive west of Fort Collins, Colo. on Highway 14 towards Walden, Colo. When you enter Highway 14 from Fort Collins, look for Ted's Place. Ted's is a gas station and convenient store, stop here to hit the bathroom, fill up on gas, and grab some snacks. There will be very few facilities once you enter Cache la Poudre Canyon. The first 60 miles or so will be at lower elevation...