Cirque Meadows and Emmaline Lake, CO

Posted: August 27th, 2008 | Author: Roger Ludwig | Filed under: Colorado | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

Cirque Meadows in Comanche Peak Wilderness
Highlights: Stunning views of four great cirques, carved side by side to crown a resplendent meadow, and higher up, two sparkling glacial lakes. This is a 9 on the 10 point “wow” scale!


Location: About 90 miles south west of Cheyenne, south from the Poudre River Canyon in Comanche Peak Wilderness.

Elevations: Trailhead at 8930`, Cirque Meadows, 9790’, Emmaline Lake, 10,988’

Distance: 3.5 miles to Cirque Meadows, 2.4 more miles to Emmaline Lake.

Maps: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests; USGS quads Comanche Peak and Pingree Park; Trail Illustrated Rocky Mountain National Park

Getting There: From Cheyenne, WY, take I-25 south to exit 278 at Wellington. Follow Colorado 1 west and south, turning right (north) on US 287. Turn left (west) on Colorado 14 heading up the Cache la Poudre canyon. After 25.7 miles turn left toward Pingree Park on Larimer County 63E. Continue 15.1 miles on this well graded gravel road to Tom Bennett campground. Turn right here (FS 145), going 3/10 of a mile, past the campground, to the Mummy Pass – Emmaline Lake trailhead. Park and hike from there. Four wheel drive rigs can drive up the trail but only for a very rough half mile.

The Hike: This trek is best thought of in two parts. The first is pleasant, well graded 3.5 mile walk up to Cirque Meadows following the tread of an old logging road. Fourteen years ago the Hourglass fire swept the lower areas, signaling a race between aspens and ponderosa pines for the sunlight. Wildflowers abound in this sunny section. Down to your left is the picturesque Pingree Park campus of CSU.
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