Near Fishers Peak Parking Lot to Summit - Out and Back
Summit view from shady forest section.
Near Fishers Peak Parking Lot to Summit - Out and Back
View from the summit towards the west - viewing the Spanish Peaks and Sangre De Christo Range.

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Hike Route

Fishers Peak Parking Lot to Summit - Out and Back

5.0 (1 Rating)
Trail to the Summit of one of Southern Colorado's Iconic Peaks - Fishers Peak.
14.4
mi
Distance
3,949
ft
Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
Wildflowers
Access Issues
Fishers Peak State Park (Colorado) Sunrise to Sunset - Wildlife closures to summit access from March 31 - July 31

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
14.44mi
Distance
3,949ft
Elevation Gain
3,949ft
Elevation Loss
55%
Max Grade
9,630ft
High Point
6,424ft
Low Point
Path Type
There and Back
Description
From the parking lot stay on the Challenge Trail (gravel road) for 1.3 miles and 736 feet of elevation gain to the "hub" and central point where three singletrack trails come together. From here the tail is singletrack. Take the Fishers Peak Trail, Osita Ridge Section, to an intersection with the Osita Point Trail. (~3.8 miles from start) At the intersection, there is a sign noting the final distance and what to expect. Continue on to the Fishers Peak Trail - Shady Forest Section. At the end of the Shady Forest Section (~5.5 miles from start) there is green gate. Note: This gate is locked from March 31 to July 31 for wildlife closures falcon nesting. The next section is called the Stone Guard Section. Note: The last 150 yards of the Stone Guard Section is on private land and is well marked to Stay on the Trail. The next section is the Summit Approach Section. This is the most technical and steep section of the route. There are several areas where the trail is narrow and close to steep drop-offs. Don't be tempted to go out on out crossings for selfies! The rock looks unstable in many spots. To get to the summit, there is a narrow chute to scramble through to get to the Summit Loop. The Summit is a loop that circumvents the table top of Fisher's Peak. Stay on the trail! The plants at on the summit are sensitive high altitude flora. To return reverse the route. Note: when you get back to the "hub" you can elect to take one of two trails back to the parking lot.
History & Background
This area was private land for many many years with no access to the anywhere near the peak. You can read about the history of the area on the The Nature Conservancy website. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/colorado/stories-in-colorado/fishers-peak/

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

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Contributors
Victor Mariano