In Colorado, however, more scenery comes with higher elevations and exposure to lightning. Segment CW02: Sheep Gulch to Cottonwood Pass Trailhead, 9. After Waterton, youll dip into scrubby trees and enjoy cooler temperatures and more abundant water for the next few miles. Another great resource is apps such as farOut and onX, which allow you to put the entire trail in your pocket. Went to Lookout Mountain recently and it was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever experienced. Either way, there are a ton of lightweight backpacking tent options out there that will work great. Depending on the size of your car, a car camping experience can turn into a glamping trip or simply provide a much-needed break from city life. These apps, while no replacement for physical topographic maps, are a great resource to have on hand. Segment 24 It is slightly anticlimacticjust more grass gently sloping away in every direction and a wooden sign to mark the significance of this place. This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. You . Add about 50 miles to this figure if you follow the Colorado Trails Collegiate West route. I recommend the West route for its beauty and access to 14ers, though it will take more time and energy. Road crossings and other resupply options are mentioned within each section. After the high point at 47.5 and descending for about a mile, youll start a very long, gradual, beautiful five-mile climb through a long valley thats fairly open and features many expansive views. Its best to be on the Colorado Trail only from July 1st through mid-September. The Colorado Trail is nearly 500 miles of awe-inspiring terrain through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. So, I decided to create this ranked list of the segments, from best to worst. Incredible backpacking sleeping bags are a dime a dozen. In 2012 the Colorado Trail Foundation introduced the 83-mile Collegiate West route. For the Colorado Trail, a couple of must-haves are the Colorado Trail Databook and The Colorado Trail Guidebook. Essential Safety Tips for Thru-Hiking the Colorado Trail Are you really going to eat oatmeal every morning for a month? It should be noted that the trail hasnt broken above 8,000 feet so far, so if youre hiking in the summertime like most people, conditions will likely be pretty toasty. Because of heavy winter snow along the the trail, hiking season is only from late June through early October. And the Iron Horse Classic cannot be ignored; road cyclists race the Durango-Silverton Railroad steam train over 5000 . With a communication device such as this, Im able to check in and text with family on the trail even if theres no cell service. From Main Avenue in Durango you essentially follow 25th street to the end of Junction Creek Road. Theres only one small section at Waterton Canyon where dogs are not allowed. The last major piece of gear is the sleeping pad. 2022 Backcountry Emily Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions. I just have to say, many of these segments were difficult to rank! That was one of the notes I jotted down in 2019 when I read The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life, by David Brooks. This split in the CT occurs in Segment 11. The trail gradually shifts in character as you make your way toward San Luis Pass from Eddiesville Trailhead. Likewise, the chances of encountering an early-season snowstorm increase significantly from September into October. Theres one more big climb up to Molas Lake before you can catch a ride into Silverton on Highway 550 for a well-earned rest. This is easily bypassed via the Indian Creek trailhead (see above). (867 KM) Days 13 % Unpaved 80% % Singletrack 55% % Rideable (time) 92% Total Ascent 72,500' (22,098 M) High Point 13,270' (4,045 M) Difficulty (1-10) 9? Missouri Gulch is not part of the Collegiate West Alternate and rejoins the CT in Segment 12. Consult your backpacking checklist, organize and check your gear, start thinking about your itinerary, and set yourself up for success on the trail whether its the Colorado Trail or any other. You can ship it via USPS to a local post office. Segment 3: Little Scraggy Trailhead to Rolling Creek Trailhead, 26. Or more. Its hard to consume as many calories as you burn when you are walking 10-20 miles a day. But weve also got a list of 10 other canister and liquid-fuel stoves that were some of our favorites from last year. Merrill Hastings, as editor of Colorado Magazine, played a big roll in drumming up early support. WINTER PARK 2009 2010 Winter Downhill ski resort trail map RESORT Colorado USA. If you hike or ride the entire segment, it is 32.9 miles. These meadow walks are broken up by short stretches through aspen groves. The CDT was established after the Colorado Trail, and coincides with it for roughly 200 miles, from Segment 6 through Segment 24. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Postcard Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado at the best online prices at eBay! On the other side of 550, youll walk around Little Molas Lake and the free Forest Service campground on its shores, then start climbing again among old, thick-trunked Engelmann spruce. I have not hiked the official Collegiate West route, but I recommend it based on my experience through Hope Pass and Missouri Gulch. I have friend who invited on the CT with him, but I cannot join him for the first two weeks. Theyre typically more expensive and can get old if youre eating them day in and day out. Thats when some good-hearted, kind-natured soul will provide beers, soda, candy bars, or other supplies for thru-hikers along the trail. Moved from CT to CO. Some of the basic gear you will need for an overnight trip includes: But before we get into all the sweet gear youll need, we should start with a scale and a little something called base weight.. Try entering Junction Creek Campground Durango in Google maps to get on the right track. Camped among the aspen near the base of the Mount Elbert approach trail. Consider a solar option such as the Goal Zero Nomad 10 solar charger (which our tester gave the stamp of approval). Depending on the season and the year, many of them may still be graced with snowy caps. Photo via. Walking alone on the Colorado Trail can be pure bliss. Start planning your trip! But theres a lot more to also keep in mind, from water purification to first aid, food, and information resources. My second-favorite area was in the Collegiate Peaks. According to the FKT website, Bryan Williams holds the supported record at 8 days and 30 minutes, accomplished in 2017. . Five bypasses from the official route are necessary to go around the designated wilderness areas (more on this down the page). The CDT, alongside the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail make up the triple crown of hiking. Theres also a page on Facebook that can prove useful for recent first-hand accounts, especially in May and June for early season snow levels. Mileages are listed from Denver. This stretch is still pleasant in its own way, though. Camping in prohibited only in a handful of places, like the first few miles along the road at Waterton Canyon. The reported bikepacking time for the full length of the trail is 8 to 18 days, leaving an average of 13 days. Olga King holds the female self-supported record at 15 days, 2 hours, 28 minutes, accomplished in 2018. This year Osprey updated its fan-favorite Aether and Ariel 55 bags. The female supported record was established by Betsy Kalmeyer in 2003 9 days, 10 hours, 52 minutes. The Collegiate West alternate route is not included. Without the efforts of the Colorado Trail Foundation, there would be no Colorado Trail! Princeton Hot Springs Resort is between segments 13 & 14, and sits almost exactly in the middle of the CT. If you were interested in the surrounding trails and landscape (Whats that cool mountain over there? The trail is split into 28 segments, each of which are completely different. Segment 19: Saguache Park Road to Eddiesville Trailhead, 20. READ NEXT Everything You Need to Know to Hike the Colorado Trail, Segments 1-3 Collegiate East is 78 miles with a southbound elevation gain of ~17,800 feet. Traversing nearly 500 mountainous miles between Denver, CO and Durango, CO, the trail takes in some of its namesake state's best scenery, most remote wilderness, and authentic mountain towns. 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. Elevation profiles are listed in the Data Book. After miles of fairly monotonous pasture walking, youre launched back into sensory overload in Segments 20 and 21. It is not necessarily a hard trail, but between the distance and the elevation at Georgia Pass, it can be a challenging mountain bike ride or hike. Some of the National Forest Wilderness Areas require dogs to be on a leash. CPW issues hunting and fishing licenses, conducts research to improve wildlife management activities, protects high priority wildlife . Travelers from out of state should take at least a day or two to acclimate before the 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. Hiking just one 14er offers an unparalleled experience, with views that arent found along the official trail. Trail Magic or Angels are always a special treat to encounter on any thru-hike. Read more. Others like Mount Elbert are just fine. The Collegiate West route has only a few unique resupply options, like Taylor Park and St. Elmo. OR you can continue on the Collegiate West Route. GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Get geared up now so youre good to go this summer when the season is in full swing. By signing up for email newsletters, you agree to GearJunkie's, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). For the Colorado Trail, there are 33 segments to the trail. If youve had enough of high, exposed elevations and lightning, then go East. Snacks, water, headlamp, and extra layers are essential. That equals 13% of the total distance. Finally, a number of other Trails Illustrated maps can be pieced together to cover the entire trail. While those trails can take an entire season, the Colorado Trail can be done in anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how fast of a hiker you are. The segment is mostly through open fields, rolling hills and ends on beautiful Kenosha Pass which is littered with Aspen Trees. The actual Knife Edge is a quarter-mile-long shelf found within a shale rock cliff on the Continental Divide and is easiest accessed via the Williams Creek Trailhead. Georgia Pass was really the first time I felt like I was hiking in the Rocky Mountains on this trail. Her answer was, I didnt.. This way youre less likely to get caught on the move above treeline. All rights reserved. The fact that air-conditioned motorists can appreciate this view just as easily as flea-bitten thru-hikers does not negate the fact that it is one of the most spectacular vistas on the trail. No dogs are allowed at Waterton Canyon. Colorado Trail | 2020 Thru Hike 43,592 views Premiered Aug 25, 2020 878 Dislike Share Save Mike Windsor 546 subscribers Here it is folks! Distance: 32.9 miles. Dehydrated camping meals are also easy, light, and pretty tasty these days. Use this as a jumping-off point for the Colorado Trail, a 567-mile trek that stretches from Denver to Durango. Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead, 24. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. . David has also worked at an outdoor PR agency and daily newspapers across Colorado. Most segments start and end at a road or trailhead, and they can sometimes be pretty remote. This way, youre able to help yourself or others on the trail as needed. Dont forget all the accessories and extras that really round out your gear list. Gudy served as the first president of the CTF through 1998. 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. Its over 40,000 words with 1,500 beautiful photos. As of 2021, the trees in this area were still mostly alive. It traverses eight mountain ranges, six wilderness areas and stays above 10,000' for the majority of the trail. You can always find something valuable about a segment even if its not your favorite. The first few miles of this descent are treacherous due to the unhappy combination of a steep gradient and an abundance of pea gravel that works like ball bearings under your feet. Colorado Trail Segment 5 is by far the most pretty of the first 5 segments of the 485 trail. 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. The Beer Drinkers Guide to the Colorado Trail. The west route maintains a significantly higher elevation and adds just 5 miles to a thru-hike. 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