About this place

The parking area at Mount McConnel Trailhead accommodates approximately five vehicles. In the off season, this trailhead parking is closed. The trail leaves the Mountain Park Picnic Site for loop hikes on the Kreutzer Nature Trail (#936) and Mt. McConnel Trail (#992). Most hikers begin at the trailhead, circle to the south and east, then exit near the bridge across the Cache La Poudre River, walking back up the campground road to return to their vehicle at the trailhead. At one mile, the Mt. McConnel Trail branches off of the Kreutzer Trail to the right and ascends to the summit, while the shorter two-mile Kreutzer Nature Trail continues its loop to the east. If you take the Mount McConnell Trail to the summit, you will find the east leg of the Mt. McConnel loop is steep, rocky and difficult to navigate. A fee is charged. Travel 11 miles northwest of Fort Collins on U.S Highway 287 to Colorado Highway 14. Turn left on CO 14 and travel 24 miles. Turn left and cross the bridge into Mountain Park Campground, the trailhead is to the right after the bridge near the end of the day use area.