Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests · Colorado

Big South

11 mi of trail, end to end · Big South Trailhead (#944): 10.4 mi one way in the Service's write-up · native material surface · trail No. 944 · trail class 2 · typical grade 12-20% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, horse

Trailhead Big South Trailhead (#944) Drive there

Big South Trailhead (#944) 10.4 mi one way · the Forest Service's write-up

The Big South Trail enters the Comanche Peak Wilderness a half-mile from the trailhead. The Flowers Trail (#939) intersects from the east shortly before the trail fords the Poudre River. The river crossing is difficult or dangerous depending on the time of year, the amount of runoff, and the water flow controlled by Long Draw Reservoir. The Big South Trail continues south to join the Corral Creek Trail (# 989) and provides access to Rocky Mountain National Park via the Poudre River Trail. The Big South Trailhead accommodates approximately 19 vehicles.

Download a trail summary .

You can find more information about this area at Poudre Wilderness Volunteers .

Length : 10.4 miles one-way

Elevation : Beginning Elevation: 8,440' - Peak Elevation: 9,550'

Restrictions <strong>General Wilderness Regulations</strong>: <ul><li>Dogs must be on a hand held leash.</li><li>No motorized or mechanized equipment.</li><li>Camps, campfires, and stock, where allowed, at least 200 feet from water and trails.</li><li>Group size limited to 12 people or stock animals combined.</li></ul><strong>Wilderness Travel Zone Regulations</strong>: <ul><li>No campfires &ndash; stoves only.</li><li>Overnight stock use prohibited.</li></ul><strong>In Rocky Mountain National Park</strong>: <ul><li>Dogs are prohibited.</li><li>Permit required for overnight camping in park.</li><li>Check with <a href="https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm">Park</a>&nbsp;for other regulations.</li></ul>

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests

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About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.