Hiking – North Fork of the Big Thompson River Trail

I’m not sure I can recommend the Signal Mountain loop. The trail completely disappears in places due to neglect and fire damage requiring bushwhacking, off-trail navigation, multiple stream crossings, a re-route due to massive deadfall, and more. The navigation challenges were substantial — the trail simply does not exist for a couple of miles. 

I do not have an actual route to share, but we ended up with 17.5 miles and 5,200’ elevation gain according to one of the people on the trip. Took us 9.5 hours. Not even scenic due to extensive forest fire burn scars — probably 75% of the hike was without tree cover with only dead trees where the forest once stood. I’m glad I did the route, to see the forest regenerating, but it is not a hike that will appeal to most people.