Hey Gina.....
The South Fork trail leaves the Cottonwood Lake trail right after the first stream crossing (about 100 meters beyond the crossing. You come to a sandy area with tree limbs on the ground on left side of trail). It's an old trail that existed prior to the addition of a new trail from the New Army Pass trail. The trail follows the creek through some beautiful meadows and passes by a trapper cabin).
It cuts about 2 miles off (give or take). However, it pretty much ends after it circumvents South Fork Lake as it continues to Cirque Lake.
At this point it's cross country for about a half mile to where you pick up the New Army trail, just before you cross the stream outlet from Long Lake.
Take a look at google maps or another map program. Some maps show the trail, others don't.
I would say that if you have some time, do a trial run using a map.
I am not sure why you need to do Cirque Peak soon.
paul
