Pierson Park
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	Raymond and Panorama Peak
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Easy 4 FR119, FR325 9.00 8,200 to 9,380 ft. NA 3-4 hours
County:	Larimer
Adopted by:
Managed by:	Roosevelt National Forest Canyon Lakes Ranger District	2150 Centre Ave., Building E Fort Collins, CO 80526	(970)295-6700
Summary:	Pierson Park 4WD road is a connector between Meeker Park and Estes Park. It passes the Twin Sisters Peaks.
Attractions:
Seasonal Closure:	Agency - December 1 to June 14
Best Time:	June - May still be drifted in. July - Best time. August - Best time. September - Best time. October - Watch for early snows.
Trail Heads Accessed:
Camping:	There are a couple of dispersed sites at the Meeker Park (South) end of the road.
Base Camp:	This would not be a good area to base camp due to the amount of private property around the two ends of the road.
Fall Colors:	Poor
Navigation:	From Allenspark, CO. head west on CO-7 W/CO-7 for 3.4 miles. Turn right onto Cabin Creek Rd and go 0.6 miles. Turn right onto Sutherland Rd and go 0.3 miles. Turn left to stay on Sutherland Rd and go 0.3 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 82E and go 0.9 miles. Take a slight left onto the Pierson Park 4WD road. From Estes Park, CO. head east on Big Thompson Ave/E Elkhorn Ave toward Riverside Drive for 0.3 miles. Take a slight right onto N St Vrain Ave and go 0.4 miles. Take a slight right onto CO-7 and go 2.0 miles. Turn left onto Scott Ave and go 0.5 miles. Turn right onto Fish Creek Rd and go 0.9 miles. Take a slight left onto Little Valley Rd and go 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Black Squirrel Dr/Little Valley Rd and continue to follow Little Valley Rd for 472 feet. Turn right to stay on Little Valley Rd and go 0.2 miles. Take the 1st left onto Little Valley Drive and go 0.3 miles. Take the first left to stay on Little Valley Drive and go 0.5 miles. This is the start of the Pierson Park 4WD road.
History:
Description:
Starting from Meeker Park and heading north, Pierson Park road climbs up into the forest and works its way through low valleys. There are a few dispersed campsites along this section of the road. The road will be easy with some small rocky sections as you head toward Twin Sisters Peak. The road will get a bit narrower as it continues through the forest around the east side of the Twin Sisters. Middle section of the road photo by: Adam M You will continue to the north through a small valley flanked by the Twin Sisters and House Rock. Here the road will get a bit more interesting as it comes to a steep downhill with a switchback at the bottom. You will follow the drainage east out to a more open area. The road will skirt the edge of a small meadow and then turn back to the north again. North end of the road below the Twin Sisters Peaks photo by: Adam M Less than a mile past the small meadow is where the 2013 Flood caused an earth flow. Pierson Park 4WD road was split by a huge land slide off of the Twin Sisters Peaks. It brought large amounts of debris down from between the peaks and crossed the road creating a tall eathflow filled with trees and large rocks. (It crossed close to where the picture above was taken.) The Forest Service has closed the Pierson Park road at present, but may open the north end and south end with turn arounds at the earthflow in the future. Looking across the flow photo by: Kevin B Looking up the flow photo by: Kevin B Large trees in the flow photo by: Kevin B Past the earth flow the road will cross a larger meadow and then head back up into the forest. It will run along a broad ridge before connecting with a residential area. From here you will do a series of switchbacks passing private drives. Keep heading down hill and you will connect with Fish Creek Road. Left will connect you with Hwy 7, right will head to Estes Park.
Data updated - May 8, 2016      4WD Road driven - June 15, 2004      Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2016