Iconic summit trail in southern Colorado making summer debut

A trail to the top of an iconic mountain in southern Colorado is about to open for its first summer.

Starting Aug. 1, the seasonal closure for raptor nesting on Fishers Peak's upper cliffs will lift — granting hikers access to the chimney-like summit looming 9,600 feet over Trinidad.

The summit trail debuted late last fall, ahead of the seasonal closure lasting from March 15 through July. That was "a soft opening," said Fishers Peak State Park Manager Crystal Dreiling.

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At the time, especially considering the season's shorter days, she expected a "trickle" of hikers feeling up to the long-distance venture gaining about 3,000 feet.

"I was really surprised just by the number of people I heard from," Dreiling said. "Immediately when the peak opened, there were many more vehicles in our parking lot."

The message was clear: Locals and people from afar who long gazed at Fishers Peak had waited long enough. The mountain was privately held for generations before it was announced as Colorado's 42nd state park in 2019.

"With this being the first summer with access to the peak, the days will be longer, and we'll have more people probably confident in being able to make that hike round trip," Dreiling said.

From the suggested route starting out on Lone Cub Trail — a map is posted on the state park's website — the round trip covers about 17 miles. (The trail is open to mountain bikers as well until the last stretch, including the steep, rocky approach to the grassy summit.)

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While never as steep as your typical 14,000-foot peak, Dreiling said hikers are wise to treat Fishers Peak as such. Similarly, she noted, the journey requires an early start to avoid afternoon storms, packing essentials, and a certain level of fitness and savvy.

If some are "weeded out," that might be intentional. The trail's demand is by design, Dreiling explained.

In planning for the park, the idea for a road and parking lot closer to Fishers Peak's base was rejected — to leave the land intact, Dreiling said. "But it would also create a situation where we might have 1,000 people on top of the peak a day, and imagine what that would do to a delicate and sensitive ecosystem."

Planning aimed to "balance" recreation while protecting that environment and historic, cultural aspects of the landscape, Dreiling said. It was thought permits for summit seekers could help achieve that.

"If we're getting too many people up there, or if they're not staying on trail, if they're disturbing ground up there, then that's something we can move to," Dreiling said.

Other than the summit trail, there are plenty more options across the network sprawling 13 miles.

Another 8 miles could break ground next year, Dreiling said — an alternate route going up or down from the summit.

She said the hope is to add backcountry campsites off the trail by next summer. For now, campsites can be reserved at nearby Trinidad Lake State Park.

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