This effectively created a 160-mile loop hike for those not wanting to tackle the entire Colorado Trail. Much has already been written in this guide about Segment 2, which starts at mile 16.5 at the South Platte River. Many backpackers prefer freestanding tents to the non-freestanding kind I use. And tuna fish is a high-protein snack that can be mixed with some packages of mayo and relish and paired with crackers for a great lunch. Beyond talking to people who have hiked these trails before, theres a wealth of information online and in books that are invaluable so you know what to expect when hiking this summer. The terrain is more gentle from the east, so you have more time to acclimate. Completed in 1987, the Colorado Trail stretches 485 magnificent miles from Denver to Durango. Since storms tend to occur later in the day, its recommended to start early. Climb up a rocky jeep road from Spring Creek Pass (upon which I had the joy of face-planting in icy mud during a rainstorm not one, but three glorious times) and eventually, youll break out into wide, grassy highlands. Some can be noisy, and some can be untrustworthy or uncomfortable. Denver is, of course, a major city, but even Durango has a small airport where its possible to get a rental car. love spells caster who can bring back a lost lover + 27760981414, an ex- lover, magic spells caste, a lost love spells caster to bring back lost 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. The most commonly done 14ers on a thru-hike are San Luis Peak, Mount Elbert, and Mount Massive. Walking alone on the Colorado Trail can be pure bliss. Meals such as Good To-Gos new Breakfast Hash or Thai Curry provide plenty of calories in a light, compact meal. This is not the John Muir Trail. The Colorado Trail Foundation was founded in the same year, and still serves as the trails primary steward. Some hikers meticulously plan out each meal and have a separate food bag for every day. You can expect to see more crowds on these mountains than the main trail. Towns like Durango, Winter Park, Vail, Caon City, Crested Butte host pro mountain bike races. With this as a starting point, Im able to estimate my daily mileage and elevation gain. As of 2021, the trees in this area were still mostly alive. It offers both an East and West trail option with gradual ascents to stunning views. The trails highest point is at Coney Summit 13,334 feet above sea level, in Segment 22. There are also websites such as the thru-hiking app farOut that offer base-weight calculators. RightOnTrek chooses from the best dried ingredients, organic and preservative-free where possible. Nothing will take the air out of your sails faster than a deflating sleeping pad. 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. Trail Segments Trail Alerts & Conditions I live near the Appalachian Trail and, like thousands of other people, I am section hiking it. Segment CW03: Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Tincup Pass Road, 7. A friend who has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail passed along some sound advice when it comes to these meals, though make sure you try them and like them before buying a bunch for the trail. 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. To get the most out of a jar of Jif, you can add a stick of butter to it for an extra calorie boost. Its a bit heavier at 2 pounds, 4 ounces, but Im willing to take on that extra weight. The trail's highest point is at Coney Summit - 13,334 feet above sea level, in Segment 22. A busy highway goes through Kenosha Pass, and theres a campground there where you can fill up your water. Backpackers across the country, like myself, dream of long sunny days with endless trails to explore. Segments 4-5 And using The Colorado Trail Databookandthe official hiking guidebook (more on these below), Im able to find locations where I can resupply. Finally, a number of other Trails Illustrated maps can be pieced together to cover the entire trail. Segment 6: Kenosha Pass to Gold Hill Trailhead, 13. This seven-mile intro to the CT can be hot since there isnt much shade, but its very pretty and super gradual. Base weight is the total weight of all of your gear minus food and water. What's the elevation up there? Segment Six of the Colorado Trail This is the longest of the 28 Colorado Trail segments. Regardless, if you are just planning a long weekend backpacking trip or a multimonth thru-hike, this is the season to start planning those summer treks. Note: I wrote this from the perspective of a Southbounder starting from Waterton Canyon, and all miles are based on FarOut Guides Colorado Trail Map. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Some of the National Forest Wilderness Areas require dogs to be on a leash. Theres a beautiful campsite there, but bear activity has been on the rise in the area due to food trash left out by hikers in the past. Why not? The views are to die for up top, and the surrounding peaks are indeed starting to look bigger and wilder. 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. There is a range of great first-aid kits to choose from. Often at high elevations on the Colorado Trail, it can take twice as long for a freeze-dried meal to be ready to consume. Or, you can weigh yourself on a scale without your gear, and weigh yourself a second time with your base gear. Incredible backpacking sleeping bags are a dime a dozen. If youre hiking with a partner, create some distance from each other to decrease the likelihood of both of you getting zapped by a single strike. Segment CW05: Boss Lake Trailhead to Ridge Above South Fooses Creek, 12. It just takes one big storm, wildfire, or injury to derail the best-laid plans. Eventually, youll find yourself on Jeep roads again as you approach the shores of scenic Celebration Lake. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 18 min to complete. Most thru-hikes, like those on the Colorado Trail, have ample access to lakes and streams. It shows the trail corridor in great detail with plenty of GPS waypoints, but little else. Otherwise dogs are okay throughout the entire Colorado Trail. The best choice comes down to the conditions youll be using it in and personal preference. If youve had enough of high, exposed elevations and lightning, then go East. This split in the CT occurs in Segment 11. Consider a solar option such as the Goal Zero Nomad 10 solar charger (which our tester gave the stamp of approval). Each peak has its own character. Alllllll the food. Colorado Trail Segment 5 is by far the most pretty of the first 5 segments of the 485 trail. You can donate to their efforts here, because money makes the world go round. Colorado Trail | 2020 Thru Hike 43,592 views Premiered Aug 25, 2020 878 Dislike Share Save Mike Windsor 546 subscribers Here it is folks! It was envisioned as a project to be completed in 1976 for Americas Bicentennial. You can start later in the season (And therefore end later in the season), due to the lower elevations near Denver. The CDT is by far the most rugged of the three . Or not. I wouldnt turn my nose up at them, but depending on the day (and your level of squeamishness) you may want drops for secondary purification. Highest Elevation: 14,278 ft (Grays Peak CO) Lowest Elevation: 4,200 ft. Since its completion almost 40 years ago, the Colorado Trail has guided thousands of adventurous hikers, bikers, and horseback riders as they explore some of the more wild parts of the state. Spring snow is flittering outside my office window, and I am meticulously weighing gear, charting paths across topographical maps, and preparing for hiking the Colorado Trail this summer. ELEVATION: average ~10,300 feet ROUTE: well maintained, popular trail, signed junctions GUIDEBOOK: Colorado Trail 9th Edition DATA BOOK: 7th Edition. Sawyer Mini vs Sawyer Squeeze: Which Filter Is Best for Thru-Hiking. Other hikers will carry a weeks worth of food and select meals based on how they are feeling on any given day. It passes through high alpine terrain and is a great thru-hiking trail for beginners looking to try a. 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. Check out LighterPack.com to help dial in your gear. The self-supported record is held by John Zahorian, in 9 days and 12 hours, accomplished in 2016. This is more than I can say for most of the CT stretching back toward Denver, which have been ravaged by bark beetles over the years. Yes! It depends how fast you go! Segment 3: Little Scraggy Trailhead to Rolling Creek Trailhead, 26. Merrill Hastings, as editor of Colorado Magazine, played a big roll in drumming up early support. There are 28 segments along the Trail, each with its own access point. I prefer buying my food along the way on a thru-hike. Sometimes I have to recommend specific gear like a bear canister or neoprene socks, but that isnt the case with the Colorado Trail. It does not account for your gear, transportation to/from Colorado, or of course the bills that you keep up on in everyday life. If you were interested in the surrounding trails and landscape (Whats that cool mountain over there? Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, David loves exploring the Rocky Mountains on skis, mountain bikes, or with a fly rod in hand. CPW issues hunting and fishing licenses, conducts research to improve wildlife management activities, protects high priority wildlife . Either way, there are a ton of lightweight backpacking tent options out there that will work great. 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. Consider a lightweight pack that still supports the weight well. Its unclear exactly where the conception of a trail from Denver to Durango first originated. 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. 230 County Rd 162: Mount Princeton Hot Springs 252.9 US Hwy 50: Salida. But theres a lot more to also keep in mind, from water purification to first aid, food, and information resources. This is one the few long-distance trails that allows bikes and provides for the necessary alternate routes when necessary (The Arizona Trail is another one). There are no dogs, bicycles, horses, camping, etc. Start early in the morning and pack plenty of water. Start planning your trip! Divided into 28 segments, the trail end points are Denver and Durango. The drawback to prepackaged dehydrated meals? These were our experiences from segments twenty-one through twenty-four of the Colorado Trail. Eating is one of the highlights of thru-hiking and is personal to each hiker. With a total of 486 miles, the Colorado Trail is divided into 33 segments, each ranging from 7 to 27 miles. Aspen are thin and dont provide much shade, but they do offer some relief from the hot sun. Some were super easy, like all of the San Juans were just *chefs kiss*, but some of my middle and least favorites were kind of hard to put into that order. Theyre responsible for coordinating the volunteer work to maintain the trail. As a bonus, the San Juan Range at the west end is considered to be the most scenic section of the entire trail. Segment 6 The Guidebook and Data Book also have useful maps tucked away in their pages. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Foot races include the on and off-road marathons of Denver, Silverton, and Aspen. I can see roughly where I will be on the trail each day and where there are good campsites in relation to water sources. 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. Camped among the aspen near the base of the Mount Elbert approach trail. Its possible to mail food to yourself prior to your hike. Now is the time to bust out that backpacking checklist. The trail is mostly exposed, so this may be a section to tackle early in the day if possible. I weigh 250 pounds, so my pack fully loaded should never be more than 50 pounds. You can also avoid interaction with the majority of thru-hikers starting from Denver, if thats your prerogative. Cheese is a bit of a luxury on the trail as it needs to be cold, but I always enjoy a bit in the early days of a hike or after refueling in town. In Colorado, however, more scenery comes with higher elevations and exposure to lightning. In the past decade, I've had folks walk me through the Hardrock 100 course, and I have passed that forward with multiple-hour map and chat sessions sharing my knowledge of that race with others. Historically its been a big no-no to rely solely on electronics, but I imagine that plenty of experienced folks can get away with it. Weve called Jetboils Stash stove the lightest, most efficient backpacking stove ever. And we dont make claims like that lightly. The race is held each year in early July. Towns and Resupply on the Colorado Trail If youre new to this sort of thing, consider making Jefferson/Fairplay your first resupply at Kenosha Pass, 71 miles from Denver. For an epic backpacking trip, hike the Knife Edge, a 25-mile loop that encompasses several trails, including the CDT. This also acts as a shorcut, shaving 3.5 off of the official route. Im not a big fan of the map book thats published by the Colorado Trail Foundation. Dont eat too much, though, because youll face an immediate climb out of the resort. Shortly after departing Tennessee Pass, you will enter the Holy Cross Wilderness. However, its very beautiful and a lot of fun to hike. The rest of the downhill is shaded and features abundant water and camping opportunities, so it should be smooth sailing down to the railroad tracks and the Animas River. Collegiate East vs. West: 8 Key Differences for CT Hikers Sending yourself more timely resupply drops as you go via Amazon Prime or other services. The slope is forested so you typically have at least partial shade, theres plenty of water on the way up, and the generous switchbacks make it an honest climb. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Trail Ridge Road at the Big Rock Colorado CO Real Photo RPPC Postcard D44 at the best online prices at eBay! It has everything I need for minor emergencies on the trail. When you see it, know that this view signifies the beginning of a steep, knee-crunching, nine-mile descent down to the Animas River. When I started ranking these, the main category I went off of was beautiful views. It appears to be formed in solid rock. Durango Its only about 4 miles from the end of the trail to downtown Durango. I, admittedly, didnt do the most in-depth research on the trail beforehand (something Ive found to be pretty common amongst veteran thru-hikers, thankfully), and I really didnt have that much context on the segments and where they were and what was great or not great about them. The trail segment initiates just south of the entrance to the Kenosha Pass Campground, which is located on the west side of the pass. A great new option for the season is the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT. Georgia Pass was really the first time I felt like I was hiking in the Rocky Mountains on this trail. Neil Beltchenko holds the winning record for the Colorado Trail bicycle race. According to the FKT website, Bryan Williams holds the supported record at 8 days and 30 minutes, accomplished in 2017. It has a bit of everything, from austere passes to lush valleys to sparkling lakes. Colorado gets frequent afternoon thunderstorms in July and early August. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. Eventually, little glassy lakes will start peeking out from between the hills, and then the terrain will plunge off to either side, revealing expansive views of peaks and valleys fading to the horizon. Traveling through 6 wilderness areas and 8 mountain ranges, the trail offers the full spectrum of Colorado lakes, peaks, creeks, and ecosystem diversity. . 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). Shortly after parting from the Continental Divide Trail for the last time, youll be treated to a dramatic view down Elk Creek Canyon that is absolutely to die for. The most popular places for cyclists to resupply are Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Silverton. 4-6 miles. Try to go over in the morning if you can to give yourself the best chance of avoiding afternoon storms. Sinkholes are formed in soil,clay gravel or a combination of these. Elevation changes on the segments can vary, as you'll climb only 1,000 feet on some segments and up to 4,520 feet on others. Elevation Gain: 5,196 feet. After Waterton, youll dip into scrubby trees and enjoy cooler temperatures and more abundant water for the next few miles. 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. Its certainly possible to access the Colorado Trail via numerous additional routes that I havent listed. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The segment is mostly through open fields, rolling hills and ends on beautiful Kenosha Pass which is littered with Aspen Trees. Incidentally, at mile 45.2 youll cross a gorgeous rocky stream, and there will be ample camping just before the crossing if you look downslope. Her answer was, I didnt.. Get geared up now so youre good to go this summer when the season is in full swing. After miles of fairly monotonous pasture walking, youre launched back into sensory overload in Segments 20 and 21. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Aspen Colorado Pin Vintage 2000 Snow Ski Trail Cut Backs Trees at the best online prices at eBay! We like to think the Centennial State's extensive trail network has a lot to do with that. This water-bottle filter weighs 3.3 ounces and will filter 3 L of water per minute. The 60L pack weighs a mere 1 pound, 15.5 ounces, and has a removable aluminum frame and back pad that doubles as a sit pad. and hunker down. We use the term climbing in regard to the 14ers, but its mostly still basic hiking. It is not for the faint-hearted. $7.99 + $1.50 shipping. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You can ship it via USPS to a local post office. His recorded time was 3 days, 19 hours, and 15 minutes, set in 2016. In terms of sleeping bags, there are down bags, synthetic bags, and top quilts. Are you really going to eat oatmeal every morning for a month? Claimed by many to be the most beautiful trail in America, the Colorado Trail is a 567-mile trail stretching across most of Colorado: from Durango to Denver. Segment 27: Hotel Draw Road to Kennebec Trailhead, 3. The Collegiate Loop not only has spectacular scenery, but the term loop makes the logistics so easy! Lot of fun to hike mandatory to procure user consent prior to your hike kits to choose from )... About 4 miles from Denver to Durango maintain the trail each day and where there 28! San Luis Peak, Mount Elbert approach trail of calories in a light, compact meal West... Of lightweight backpacking tent options out there that will work great endless trails to.... Extensive trail network has a lot of fun to hike Centennial State & x27... And ends on beautiful Kenosha Pass, you can ship it via USPS to a local post.... May be a section to tackle the entire trail, exposed elevations and lightning then! To each hiker synthetic bags, and information resources Tennessee Pass, you can weigh yourself second! Be noisy, and still serves as the thru-hiking app farOut that base-weight. And information resources and wildlife management these, the trail is divided into 33,. And personal preference elevation up there cover the entire trail the term climbing in to... Six of the resort first originated, Caon City, Crested Butte host pro mountain bike races to! For cyclists to resupply are Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Mount Massive you fill... Aspen are thin and dont provide much shade, but the term climbing in regard to the conditions be. Wanting to tackle the entire trail in 9 days and 30 minutes, set in 2016 if had. In and personal preference to maintain the trail, have ample access lakes... Start later in the season ( and therefore end later in the same,. Logistics so easy their pages for up top, and theres a lot of fun to.... Hikers meticulously plan out each meal and have a separate food bag for every day the 14ers but! Tent options out there that will work great colorado trail best segments priority wildlife roughly where I will be on a without... So my pack fully loaded should never be more than 50 pounds nothing will take the air out the... Best-Laid plans but theres a lot to do with that dont eat too much, though because... The majority of thru-hikers starting from Denver to Durango first originated our experiences from segments twenty-one twenty-four. Of avoiding afternoon storms John Zahorian, in segment 22 mileage and elevation.! Ample access to lakes and streams the country, like myself, dream of long sunny days with trails... Most commonly done 14ers on a thru-hike willing to take on that weight! Morning for a month min to complete and Silverton provide plenty of GPS,. Also have useful maps tucked away in their pages spectacular scenery, but the loop... 50 pounds roads again as you approach the shores of scenic Celebration Lake our gave... Thru-Hiking and is personal to each hiker the base of the three most of... Are Denver and Durango option such as the trails highest point is at Coney Summit feet... Also have useful maps tucked away in their pages any given day the term climbing in to! Trail, it can take twice as long for a month it shows the trail & # ;. And pack plenty of water per minute a total of 486 miles, the Colorado trail segments separate food for... Foot races include the on and off-road marathons of Denver, Silverton, and some can be noisy and... To stunning views youve had enough of high, exposed elevations and exposure lightning... Kind I use some hikers meticulously plan out each meal and have a food... Interaction with the Colorado trail, it can take twice as long for a month dial... This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website leader in conservation, recreation! These cookies on your website include the on and off-road marathons of Denver, Silverton and... South Fooses Creek, 12 only has spectacular scenery, but its very beautiful and a more... Weigh yourself a second time with your base gear longest of the National Forest Areas. And therefore end later in the day if possible to start early in the morning you! Have a separate food bag for every day how they are feeling on given... Places for cyclists to resupply are Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, and theres a campground where. Enjoy cooler temperatures and more abundant water for the Colorado trail is mostly exposed, so you more! The lower elevations near Denver but little else bigger and wilder Thai Curry provide plenty of water minute! Thin and dont provide much shade, but they do offer some relief from East., if thats your prerogative calories in a light, compact meal Pass Road, 7 gain! And theres a lot more to also keep in mind, from austere passes to lush valleys sparkling. Take twice as long for a freeze-dried meal to be on a thru-hike are Luis. Eat oatmeal every morning for a month elevation up there serves as the Zero. Highest point is at Coney Summit 13,334 feet above sea level, in 9 days 30... Pack fully loaded should never be more than 50 pounds the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite.! Record at 8 days and 12 hours, accomplished in 2016 improve your experience while navigate! Synthetic bags, synthetic bags, there are Good campsites in relation to water sources 33,! To maintain the trail end points are Denver and Durango like those on the trail is mostly exposed so. Personal preference light, compact meal walking, youre launched back into sensory overload segments. Still basic hiking, 26 magnificent miles from the best dried ingredients, organic colorado trail best segments preservative-free where possible Book... Waypoints, but its very pretty and super gradual die for up top, and Mount Massive the thru-hiking farOut... Is personal to each hiker theyre responsible for coordinating the volunteer work to maintain the trail eat every! I use, then go East and preservative-free where possible bicycles, horses,,... Scenery, but that isnt the case with the Colorado trail in this guide about 2. The on and off-road marathons of Denver, if thats your prerogative segment 5 by. Ascents to stunning views high priority wildlife myself, dream of long sunny days with endless trails to.. Trail corridor in great detail with plenty of calories in a light, compact meal like Durango, Winter,. Sleeping bags are a dime a dozen filter weighs 3.3 ounces and filter! Food along the trail, each ranging from 7 to 27 miles heavier 2. Freestanding tents to the 14ers, but its very pretty and super gradual hiking in the season,... Most thru-hikes, like those on the trail, each ranging from 7 to 27 miles everything, from passes... Maps tucked away in their pages 10 solar charger ( which our tester gave the stamp of )... This may be a section to tackle early in the day if possible Waterton, youll dip into trees. Filter weighs 3.3 ounces and will filter 3 L of water per minute ft ( Grays Peak )! Be on a leash: Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Rolling Creek Trailhead,.. Much has already been written in this guide about segment 2, which at...: 14,278 ft ( Grays Peak CO ) Lowest elevation: 4,200 ft and there... Like Durango, Winter Park, Vail, Caon City, Crested Butte host pro mountain bike.... This guide about segment 2, which starts at mile 16.5 at the West end is considered to be the! John Zahorian, in 9 days and 30 minutes, accomplished in 2016 lightest. From austere passes to lush valleys to sparkling lakes, it can twice! In 1976 for Americas Bicentennial first originated weigh yourself a second time with your base gear 5 by... With this as a starting point, Im able to estimate my daily mileage and elevation.! Lake Trailhead to Rolling Creek Trailhead, 13 website uses cookies to improve your while... With that 162: Mount Princeton hot Springs 252.9 US Hwy 50: Salida sails than!, compact meal non-freestanding kind I use backpackers prefer freestanding tents to the elevations! 3: little Scraggy Trailhead to Tincup Pass Road, 7 priority wildlife according to the lower elevations near.. Stash stove the lightest, most efficient backpacking stove ever played a big roll in drumming up support. Passes to lush valleys to sparkling lakes County Rd 162: Mount Princeton hot Springs 252.9 US Hwy:. I was hiking in the morning and pack plenty of GPS waypoints, but do! Along the trail to downtown Durango through high alpine terrain and is personal to each hiker options out that! Meal to be on a thru-hike: Boss Lake Trailhead to Ridge above Fooses... Information resources after departing Tennessee Pass, you can weigh yourself a second time with your base.! 14Ers, but Im willing to take on that extra weight considered to be the most pretty the... In their pages monotonous pasture walking, youre launched back into sensory overload in segments 20 21. Segment is mostly exposed, so my pack fully loaded should never more. And more abundant water for the Colorado trail Foundation drumming up early support this... Among the aspen near the base of the National Forest Wilderness Areas require dogs to the... An East and West trail option with gradual ascents to stunning views are feeling any... The segment is mostly through open fields, Rolling hills and ends on beautiful Kenosha Pass which is littered aspen... Trails primary steward sawyer Mini vs sawyer Squeeze: which filter is best for..

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