July 11, 2011

We headed to the Lower Poudre Canyon to the Kreutzer and Mt McConnel trails. It is a combination of two trails. The Kreutzer Nature trail is a loop and the trail to the summit of Mt McConnel can be done as an out and back or look to the summit off the nature trail.

Nature and McConnel Trail head sign

Trail Description by http://www.poudrewildernessvolunteers.org
This trail system was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1936 during the Depression and was named after William Kreutzer, who was the first official forest ranger in the U.S., in the 1890s. Mt. McConnel was named after R.C. McConnel, one of the first rangers in the Poudre District, who served here in the early 1900s. The Kreutzer Nature Trail has at least 23 interpretative signs along its length that provide information about local geology, ecology, plants, and animals.

Mt McConnel Elevation

The trail makes several switchbacks, then turns and climbs gradually westward paralleling the campground. After 0.4 mile, it will makes a sharp left (east) turn and climbs another 0.4 mile to the high point of the Kreutzer Nature Trail, where the west end of the Mt. McConnel Trail starts. To continue your patrol of the Mt. McConnel Trail follow the Mt. McConnel Trail uphill. Look for several cleverly constructed rock benches and seats that offer respite and great views. These were built right into the mountain slopes supposedly by the CCC. There is a great view to the north from the trail where it switches back just below an impressive rock escarpment and extensive talus slope about 1.4 mile from the trailhead. From this point, the trail continues climbing steeply and passes several more rock benches and seats built by the CCC. About 0.75 miles above the junction with the Kreutzer Nature Trail, the Mt. McConnel Trail enters the Cache la Poudre Wilderness (1.6 miles from the trailhead). (This is the only official trail in this Wilderness.) After another 0.25 mile, look carefully to the west, along the right side of the trail, for the unmarked 0.14 mile-long spur trail to the summit (approx. 1.9 miles from the trailhead). From the summit there is a great view to the southwest of the canyon carved by the South Fork of the Cache La Poudre River and beyond it, on the horizon, you can see the Mummy Range. To the west you can see a stretch of the Pingree Park Road.

View of the Poudre River

We entered the only Trail in the Cache la Poudre Wilderness

The nature trail on the way up

Now those are some legs!

Where the Mt McConnel trail leaves the Nature trail

Mt McConnel summit

View of the Rocky Mountain National Park

Mom and Dad on the summit of McConnel

I took a rest on the summit

Mt McConnel Summit. That was the Rocky Mountain National Park we could see.

Mom takes one more look at Rocky Mountain National Park

Mt. McConnel primitive trail by http://www.poudrewildernessvolunteers.org

If you are feeling ambitious at the summit, and are a strong hiker, you can take the spur trail back to the main Mt. McConnel Trail and turn right, to the southeast. The east arm of the Mt. McConnel Trail is steep, primitive, and not often used. You will eventually rejoin the Kreutzer Nature Trail. At this point you can go either of two routes back to Mountain Park Campground. You can follow the Kreutzer Nature Trail uphill and to the west until you reach its junction with the west arm of the Mt. McConnel trail and then follow it (Kreutzer Nature Trail) downhill, retracing your path down to the trailhead. Alternately, you can follow the Kreutzer Nature Trail downhill and to the north and northwest as it contours around the northeast flank of Mt. McConnel and gently descends toward the Poudre River. This route will take you to the eastern terminus of the Kreutzer Nature Trail near the bridge across the Poudre.

We decided to return from the summit by way of the primitive trail.

The Talus Slope we crossed

View from the primitive trail on the way down