Check out the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 or the Kelty Cosmic 20 for some other solid three-season options. Youre likely to encounter quite a few mountain bikes in this stretch. I think its more pleasing on a long hike to save the best for last! Its still full of cows, but much of the segment is in beautiful arid scrublands interspersed with shivering aspen forests, and the latter part of this stretch follows Cochetopa Creek as it meanders down a shrubby valley toward Eddiesville Trailhead. This site feeds you cookies and is peppered with affiliate links. David has also worked at an outdoor PR agency and daily newspapers across Colorado. Even if you dont know anyone personally who has hiked the trail before, technology makes it easy to discover a whole community of people who are more than willing to lend advice or insight. Divided into 28 segments, the trail end points are Denver and Durango. Large, reddish, mound-shaped mountains jut out here and there, and the ground slopes away, revealing a patchwork of dark trees, brighter grasses, glinting lakes, and occasional bare bedrock. From there you can take a taxi or Uber, private shuttle, etc. The Colorado Trail Foundation even offers a CT Shuttlers List of people willing to provide transportation on the trail to hikers. The standard hiking trail is 486 miles, but the biking bypasses extend a full length adventure to approximately 540 miles. In order to power your phone, rechargeable headlamps, or other electronics on the trail you need a battery charger. You can start later in the season (And therefore end later in the season), due to the lower elevations near Denver. Here are some popular segments throughout the state: The Colorado Trail is an iconic hiking and backpacking experience, offering a lifetime journey along rugged mountain ridges, through alpine meadows, and across roaring rivers. Walking alone on the Colorado Trail can be pure bliss. You can always find something valuable about a segment even if its not your favorite. I created a free guide for backcountry skiing in Colorado! Otherwise dogs are okay throughout the entire Colorado Trail. This is easily bypassed via the Indian Creek trailhead (see above). There are 28 segments along the Trail, each with its own access point. While the tent is lightweight, its still easy to assemble. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This also acts as a shorcut, shaving 3.5 off of the official route. The trail continues to bounce around through forested landscapes mostly between 10- and 11,000 feet. At mile 175 you can take a shortcut side trail down to Twin Lakes Village, or you can continue on the CT and do a short road walk into town (which really just means the general store, theres not much around) if you need to resupply. My favorite maps of the CT are published by Trails Illustrated. The race is held each year in early July. Segment 17: Sargents Mesa to CO Hwy 114. I mostly spend my spare time scheming new adventures and inadvertently setting my hair on fire while cooking. Still, if youre like me and manage to go across the high point on a summer afternoon, with impending thunderheads of doom nipping at your heels, it will be dramatic enough regardless. Ive crossed it both and have indeed had crappy, dangerous weather both times (lightning and freezing rain, respectively). Elevation profiles are listed in the Data Book. Happy trails. I still hiked the beginning of 11 and end of 15, so Ill still include them in my rankings. Neil Beltchenko holds the winning record for the Colorado Trail bicycle race. The trail climbs a lot in Seg 4, so show up ready to work. OR you can continue on the Collegiate West Route. Then you start the long climb up to the beautiful Georgia Pass. Most thru-hikers start from the east end of the trail at Waterton Canyon, on the west end of the greater Denver metro area (Technically Littleton, Colorado). You should try and go as light as possible. No. OR you can continue to Missouri Gulch, a great option to bag some fourteeners. After going over Blackhawk Pass, be sure to fill up at Straight Creek as there isnt much water between there and Taylor Lake 21 miles south. This split in the CT occurs in Segment 11. For any long-distance thru-hike, such as the Colorado Trail, planning a route and resupply points is key. Each one is a moderate to exceptional hike in its own right, from 11.4 miles (18.3 kilometers) to 32 miles (51.5 kilometers) in length. For more information various trailheads to access these sections, pick up a copy of the Official Guidebook. Section (segment) hiking is a great way to see the trail and being able to do the trail a weekend, week or more at a time. Follow this gently-graded road all the way to the top of Waterton Canyon, and keep your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep along the way. Segment 20: Eddiesville Trailhead to San Luis Pass, 16. 28 days (4 weeks) = 17.4 miles per day (fast) 35 days (5 weeks) = 13.9 miles per day (average) 42 days (6 weeks) = 11.6 miles per day (roses). Location: Forest Road 550 / Buffalo Creek, CO. Start Access: Paved roads. Fortunately the logistics of traveling to Denver and Durango are fairly simple. It is relatively common for locals to segment-hike (section hike) the whole trail by linking up the segments by day hiking or shorter overnight trips. It appears to be formed in solid rock. 465.9 accessible via 171 485 Route 171 at Junction Creek end of the trail! The Colorado Rockies boast some of the tallest peaks in the country, including over a dozen "14ers," or summits above 14,000 feet, that can be accessed from the Colorado Trail. The CT isnt especially crowded like the AT or PCT, so more thru-hikers is generally a good thing. Mountain bikes are not allowed in this or any other Wilderness area. Segment CW05: Boss Lake Trailhead to Ridge Above South Fooses Creek, 12. If I were to go again, then thats the road Id choose the Collegiate West. Likewise, the chances of encountering an early-season snowstorm increase significantly from September into October. It can also be fun to get creative with meal planning. Holy Cross & Mount Massive segments 9-11, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness segments 11-13. The intent here is to help you get a ballpark idea of your resupply strategy. And it tastes pretty damn good too. Support us! Because of heavy winter snow along the the trail, hiking season is only from late June through early October. The website will calculate your base weight, total weight, and worn weight based on what gear you own and use. Breaking Down | Segments 18-21 Resupply on the Colorado Trail That equals 13% of the total distance. CPW issues hunting and fishing licenses, conducts research to improve wildlife management activities, protects high priority wildlife . A quick word about hiking The Colorado Trail in segments: Not everyone can spend 4-6 weeks hiking The Colorado Trail in one long hike. David has been writing about skiing, fly fishing, and outdoor gear for 10+ years. You can enter Waterton Canyon Trailhead on Google Maps to see the precise location. Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass Trailhead to Carson Saddle, 5. The route travels around the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, using two of Colorado's best known trails, the Colorado Trail (CT) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). This 486-mile routefrom Denver to Durangoaverages 10,000 feet high and tracks through the country's densest clutch of 12,000-foot (and taller) peaks. Once you have the gear, its time to plan the logistics of the hike. Hiking and journeys life this are a part of his life. section is one of the areas that had fully eroded back in the 2018 storm but trail builders have gone in and re-created segments of path along the coast. Add about 50 miles to this figure if you follow the Colorado Trails Collegiate West route. Segments of the CT The Colorado Trail is divided into 33 segments, connecting Denver in the east with Durango in the west. Eighteen made it onto our 2023 Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags roundup. Just like any other long distance hike the beauty is that it brings all kinds of people of all different backgrounds for all kinds of reasons. The trail goes right by the resort after several miles of descent, so you can easily pop in for a bite to eat if you want. The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is a long-distance trail that runs from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. My second-favorite area was in the Collegiate Peaks. Sure, the trail is simple. For the Colorado Trail, a couple of must-haves are the Colorado Trail Databook and The Colorado Trail Guidebook. Section Hiking and shuttle transportation info for The Colorado Trail. If you hike or ride the entire segment, it is 32.9 miles. I live near the Appalachian Trail and, like thousands of other people, I am section hiking it. Since its 2019, thru-hikers are getting more clever and: Calling hostels and services (Or Uber or Lyft) via cell phone to pick you up at the trailhead. Colorado Trail Packing List Justin Simoni has compiled a detailed page about climbing the 14ers along the Colorado Trail, too. Open full screen to view more. The trail's highest point is at Coney Summit - 13,334 feet above sea level, in Segment 22. This way, youre able to help yourself or others on the trail as needed. Links to e-commerce sites earn commission. If youre looking for a quick small-scale topo map to do your own research, look no further than the wonderful resource that is CalTopo, free on the internet. For more information about specific services and hostels available in towns, check out Pmags guide. Mile for mile, this is the best major trail in America. Free shipping for many products! Segments 11-14 Im sometimes asked what is the best section of the Colorado Trail. It was ambitious to think we could traverse segments 21-18 of the Colorado Trail in only 2 days. Hunger is a stark reality of any thru-hike. Getting caught in can be scary and unnerving, especially if youre above treeline! Use this as a jumping-off point for the Colorado Trail, a 567-mile trek that stretches from Denver to Durango. Youll climb up to a saddle with an unmarked mile-long trail up to the top of San Luis Peak and then continue on a steady downhill to San Luis Pass on the other side, from where you can access Creede. Those who send packages to themselves often do a lot of supplemental shopping anyway! Segment 18: CO Hwy 114 to Saguache Park Road, 28. Segment CW03: Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Tincup Pass Road, 7. Bear canisters are not required anywhere on the Colorado Trail. The terrain slopes away so gently on either side that you feel like youre hiking in mildly hilly flatlands, rather than in the heart of the Rockies and approaching the Colorado Trails 13,259-foot high point at mile 373. Companies like RightOnTrek are also moving the needle on backpacking food, toward even tastier, more nutritious meals. AllTrails/Rolf Asphaug. However, the CT was closed near Durango due to the 416 fire. Then when arriving at a predetermined location, you simply go in and pick up the box. Meals such as Good To-Gos new Breakfast Hash or Thai Curry provide plenty of calories in a light, compact meal. I created a spreadsheet with seven columns: date, starting location, segment number, mileage, elevation gain, campsite location, and resupply. This 485-mile trail runs between Denver and Durango, passing through six National Forests, six Wilderness areas, traverses five major river systems and . Snowpack can be a problem through late June, and winter storms are more likely to hit the mountains after mid-September (I even experienced a light snowstorm in August). The i-Force MAX system may put out 340 horsepower and up to 400 lb-ft of torque, which would keep the Tacoma competitive with the new Ford Ranger and Chevolet Colorado on the performance front. Sawyer Mini vs Sawyer Squeeze: Which Filter Is Best for Thru-Hiking. I have not hiked the official Collegiate West route, but I recommend it based on my experience through Hope Pass and Missouri Gulch. If you were interested in the surrounding trails and landscape (Whats that cool mountain over there? At miles 166 and 170, you will pass junctions with the Mount Massive Trailhead, your first opportunity to summit a 14er, followed closely by the Mount Elbert Trail junctions at miles 170 and 175. 2. Start planning your trip! Although Collegiate East is the official route of the CT, both paths are accepted by the Colorado Trail Foundation as part of a CT thru-hike. Or the Nitecore NB1000 Power Bank, weighing less than 6 ounces, is a great battery pack option. Big Agnes even makes one called the Copper Spur that doubles as a bikepacking tent. It has 25 pages of info including first steps, where to go, how to find partners, weather and mapping resources, gear recommendations, and a whole lot more. Gudy served as the first president of the CTF through 1998. Segment 3: Little Scraggy Trailhead to Rolling Creek Trailhead, 26. Appalachian Trail 2018 Wonderland Trail (+ a dozen or so other NPS trails) 2019 Colorado Trail 2020 Colorado Trail 2021. Completed in 1987, the Colorado Trail stretches 485 magnificent miles from Denver to Durango. WINTER PARK 2009 2010 Winter Downhill ski resort trail map RESORT Colorado USA. CT - Segment 17: Sargents Mesa to Colorado Hwy-114 CT - Segment 18: Hwy 114 to County Road 17FF CT - Segment 19 - 21 Detour: La Garita Wilderness Bypass CT - Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle CT - Segment 23: Carson Saddle to Stony Pass CT - Segment 24 Detour: Weminuche Wilderness Bypass CT - Segment 25: Molas Pass to Bolam Pass Road and be aware that the only cure is to go back down! Add about 50 miles to this figure if you follow the Colorado Trail's Collegiate West route. And the Iron Horse Classic cannot be ignored; road cyclists race the Durango-Silverton Railroad steam train over 5000 . Its hard to consume as many calories as you burn when you are walking 10-20 miles a day. Sign in. Segments 22-23 Missouri Mountain, in particular, had a short section that struck me as exceptionally exposed. Segments 9-11 Following a seven-mile, very gradual climb from Camp Hale (including several miles of smooth, gently-graded walking on a retired dirt forest road), youll reach Tennessee Pass and the end of Segment Eight. Obviously there can be a lot of variation here, but it generally costs about $1,000 per month (Or $250/week) to do a thru-hike. Segment 2: South Platte River Trailhead to Little Scraggy Trailhead, 23. These days there are lots of great backpacking stove options. Some segments take more than a day to hike, and others less. Free shipping for many products! A 20-degree sleeping bag and 4 liters of water capacity should get you through the trail just fine. To get a sense of what this section will be like and which of the two routes you should choose, check out Collegiate East vs. West: 8 Key Differences for CT Hikers. As possible like thousands of other people, i am section hiking and shuttle info!, fly fishing, and outdoor gear for 10+ years can enter Canyon... 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